Skills Brokerage:

This paper presents a new business model based on skill brokerage, aiming to facilitate business start-ups and enhance their chance of survival in the context of the networked economy. The model is based on the concept of an entrepreneur sharing the venture's returns or even ownership with a skills broker in exchange for skills. This exchange can significantly reduce barriers in network-oriented and information-driven markets, where skills are of critical importance. It can also significantly alleviate cash flow problems, typical of many new start ups and a main cause of business failure. The model is particularly relevant to information-intensive ventures, where the value of a service is often significantly higher than the actual cost incurred by the skills providers in providing the service. If the model can be made to work, it can not only significantly increase the number of business start-ups, but also enhances their chances of survival. In this paper, we will illustrate this new business model, by providing three case studies, and explore its implications for theory, practice and policy.