Research and Relevance, Episode 12: The Entrepreneurial Pivot Necessary for Success

The entrepreneurial pivot is a term popularized by entrepreneurs Steve Blank and Eric Ries, particularly through Ries’ well-known book The Lean Startup, and represents a company’s re-orientation of strategic direction. Batten Research Fellow Siobhan O’Mahony discusses her study of early-stage energy and cleantech hardware firms in the Boston area to better understand their pivots. Dr. O’Mahony unexpectedly found that a pivot is not just a one-time occurrence but a cumulative set of decisions made over time, based on critical information drawn from customers and other stakeholders. The research has important lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs who need to engage with their potential markets early, adapt to new information, or even exit. Dr. O’Mahony is the Feld Family Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Strategy and Innovation at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.

Hosted by Erika Herz, Director of Research and Intellectual Capital at Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Read more about the entrepreneurial pivot here.