First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approach
We draw from evolutionary psychology to predict that the immediate recognition of certain traits significantly impacts funding outcomes. Four such traits that are recognizable in potential entrepreneurs and play a role in funding decisions are: aggressiveness, attractiveness, competence, and trustwo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Innovation & Knowledge |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X2500023X |
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| author | Joshua D. Maurer Steven A. Creek Thomas H. Allison Joshua S. Bendickson Arvin Sahaym |
| author_facet | Joshua D. Maurer Steven A. Creek Thomas H. Allison Joshua S. Bendickson Arvin Sahaym |
| author_sort | Joshua D. Maurer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We draw from evolutionary psychology to predict that the immediate recognition of certain traits significantly impacts funding outcomes. Four such traits that are recognizable in potential entrepreneurs and play a role in funding decisions are: aggressiveness, attractiveness, competence, and trustworthiness. These initial impressions guide the behavior and decision-making processes of funders. We hypothesize that immediate trait assignments shape initial interpretations, lead to further investigation, and represent qualities that funders view positively or negatively when deciding which campaigns to back. These hypotheses are tested using the first ten seconds of entrepreneurial pitch videos in the crowdfunding context. Our results suggest that these evolutionary-driven traits play a crucial role in funder perception and crowdfunding success and, specifically, that entrepreneurs benefit from displaying aggressiveness and competence in pitches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-94cedcba43ac4c35a0aaa88a024d8f3a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2444-569X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Innovation & Knowledge |
| spelling | doaj-art-94cedcba43ac4c35a0aaa88a024d8f3a2025-08-20T01:49:22ZengElsevierJournal of Innovation & Knowledge2444-569X2025-03-0110210067210.1016/j.jik.2025.100672First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approachJoshua D. Maurer0Steven A. Creek1Thomas H. Allison2Joshua S. Bendickson3Arvin Sahaym4Dahlkemper School of Business, Gannon University, 109 University Square, Erie, PA 16541, United StatesDepartment of Management, Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, ASU Box 32089, Boone, NC 28608, United StatesDepartment of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298530, Fort Worth, TX 76129, United StatesDepartment of Management, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 214 Hebrard Boulevard, Lafayette, LA 70503, United States; Corresponding author.Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship, Carson College of Business, Washington State University, PO Box 644743, Pullman, WA 99164-4743, United StatesWe draw from evolutionary psychology to predict that the immediate recognition of certain traits significantly impacts funding outcomes. Four such traits that are recognizable in potential entrepreneurs and play a role in funding decisions are: aggressiveness, attractiveness, competence, and trustworthiness. These initial impressions guide the behavior and decision-making processes of funders. We hypothesize that immediate trait assignments shape initial interpretations, lead to further investigation, and represent qualities that funders view positively or negatively when deciding which campaigns to back. These hypotheses are tested using the first ten seconds of entrepreneurial pitch videos in the crowdfunding context. Our results suggest that these evolutionary-driven traits play a crucial role in funder perception and crowdfunding success and, specifically, that entrepreneurs benefit from displaying aggressiveness and competence in pitches.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X2500023XL26 entrepreneurshipM13 New FirmsStartups |
| spellingShingle | Joshua D. Maurer Steven A. Creek Thomas H. Allison Joshua S. Bendickson Arvin Sahaym First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approach Journal of Innovation & Knowledge L26 entrepreneurship M13 New Firms Startups |
| title | First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approach |
| title_full | First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approach |
| title_fullStr | First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approach |
| title_short | First impressions of digital pitches, innovation, and venture funding performance: An evolutionary psychology approach |
| title_sort | first impressions of digital pitches innovation and venture funding performance an evolutionary psychology approach |
| topic | L26 entrepreneurship M13 New Firms Startups |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X2500023X |
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