COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Mohammed Hussein

TITLE: UNDERSTANDING SUCCESSFUL EXITS AMONG BLACK TECH FOUNDERS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF STRATEGIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND EXPERIENTIAL FACTORS

ABSTRACT: The central problem this study addresses is how to characterize what it takes for Black tech founders to exit. Thus, the purpose is to examine the factors that maximize the probability of success. By and large, the literature comprehensively documents the challenges that Black founders encounter due to racism, lack of venture funding, and insufficient support systems. The gap that makes this study necessary concerns understanding the factors associated with Black tech founders’ agency that led to successful exits. Succinctly stated, the primary research question is: In what ways do Black technology founders describe the strategic, psychological, and experiential factors that shaped their venture exit? The findings are expected to identify factors that can guide entrepreneurs in building successful companies positioned for an exit in the tech venture space. This qualitative study will be conducted through interviews with Black tech founders who have exited or are on track to exit. Data will be collected via interview questions designed to capture strategic decision-making, psychological characteristics, and the experiences of the founders. The findings are expected to yield a founder-grounded framework describing how constrained agency, psychological strengths, and experiential resources converge to produce successful exit outcomes for Black tech entrepreneurs.

Keywords: Black tech founders, venture exits, founder-level agency, constrained agency

 Zoom Link:

https://docs.zoom.us/agenda/doc/069eb86f-d3e0-4fc1-85ff-d03378a0a042

Meeting ID: 989 4944 4925

Passcode: 556177