Entrepreneurs Managerial Competencies and Innovative Start-Up Intentions in University Students: Focus On Mediating Factors

This study investigates the effect of entrepreneurs’ managerial competencies on the development of innovative start-up intentions among university students and examines the mediating roles of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and attitude toward start-ups. Data were collected from several universities in Iran that offer entrepreneurship courses. To analyse the relationship among the variables, a confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation modelling were applied. Results showed the significance of entrepreneurs’ managerial competencies for the development of innovative start-up intentions through the mediating factors. The results also revealed that self-efficacy does not necessarily lead to innovative start-ups due to the important role of attitude.