%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2014 %T Down the Rabbit Hole: How Structural Holes in Entrepreneurs' Social Networks Impact Early Venture Growth %A Mackenzie Adams %A Maged Makramalla %A Walter Miron %K entrepreneurs %K institutional order %K social networks %K structural holes %K venture growth %X Social networks play a significant role in the success of new entrepreneurial ventures. They provide an accumulation of tangible and intangible resources that are linked to entrepreneurial outcomes such as growth and innovation. The structure of social networks, specifically, has been linked to these outcomes; structural holes in social networks have shown an association with entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurs who have many structural holes in their networks are thought to benefit from a rich source of divergent information. This article examines the complex nature of the relationships among social networks, formal institutions, and the outcomes of new ventures. It also explores the effects of a social network’s structural holes on growth in the early years of a venture’s development. We propose that structural holes of a social network, through a mediating role of institutional polycentrism, play an important role in the growth and profitability of a new venture as well as potential threats of exploitation. We then provide recommendations based on the reviewed literature for entrepreneurs and managers of formal institutions. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 4 %P 19-27 %8 09/2014 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/828 %N 9 %1 Carleton University Mackenzie Adams is a serial entrepreneur, a Senior Technical Communicator in the Oil and Gas industry, and a graduate student in the Technology Innovation Management (TIM) program at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. She is also a Principal at THINQ I/O, a consulting company. Over the past 15 years, Mackenzie has worked in a variety of fields ranging from social work to accounting and has used those experiences to develop strong strategic and analytical skills. She is interested in the fields of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and how they relate to cybersecurity. %2 Carleton University Maged Makramalla is a current graduate student in the Technology Innovation Management (TIM) program at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the German University in Cairo, Egypt. For three years, he has been working as Manager of the Sales and Marketing Department of TREND, a trading and engineering company based in Cairo. His primary research interest lies in the improvement of educational techniques by introducing experiential learning into the regular curriculum while promoting gamification of educational methods. %3 Carleton University Walter Miron is a Director of Technology Strategy at TELUS Communications, where he is responsible for the evolution of their TCP/IP and optical networks. He has over 20 years of experience in enterprise and service provider networking conducting technology selection and service development projects. Walter is a member of the research program committee of the SAVI project, the Heavy Reading Global Ethernet Executive Council, and the ATOPs SDN/nFV Working Group. He is also Chair of the Venus Cybersecurity Corporation and a board member of the Centre of Excellence for Next Generation Networking (CENGN) in Ottawa, Canada. Walter is currently a graduate student in the Technology Innovation Management (TIM) program at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/828