From Potential to Practice: Entrepreneurial Attributes Driving New Venture Creation

This study distinctively emphasizes the role of knowledge transfer between migrant and local entrepreneurs as a crucial driver of wholesale business creation. It investigates the entrepreneurial attributes shaping the establishment of wholesale enterprises in Timor-Leste by integrating the frameworks of Entrepreneurial Human Capital (EHC) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Employing a qualitative approach, data were collected through structured interviews with six informants, comprising both local and migrant entrepreneurs operating in the wholesale sector. Thematic analysis reveals that educational background, prior work experience, and adaptive skills are central in shaping entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors, while perceived behavioral control and social norms further reinforce entrepreneurial motivation. The study also underscores the existence of regional disparities and highlights the potential for knowledge transfer from migrant to local entrepreneurs. By providing a novel perspective on how individual competencies interact with socio-cultural dynamics to drive business creation, this research advances theoretical understanding. Beyond its scholarly contribution, the study offers practical insights for local economic development policies, particularly those aimed at strengthening both personal and contextual capacities to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises in the wholesale sector.