Media Multiplexity in Entrepreneur-Mentor Relationships

Abstract

This article examines how early stage entrepreneurs establish relationships with mentors through media multiplexity. Survey data were collected from high-tech entrepreneurs in the nascent business stage working in the New York City metropolitan area. Findings confirm that the use of multiple media in inter-organizational settings is important to entrepreneurship because multi-layered communication impacts resource acquisition. The findings regarding the antecedents of media multiplexity suggest that age similarity, ethnicity similarity, trust, and perceived value influence the adoption of media in a dyadic relationship. These findings help explain the motivations behind the use of multiple media in a resource-limited social context.