Early internationalization and the role of immigration in new venture survival

Immigrant-started new ventures face the liability of ethnicity because of their founders' disadvantaged immigration status. It is extremely difficult for them to acquire human, social and financial capital and access market in founders' country of residence to survive. This study empirically examines the survival of immigrant-started new ventures. We find that an early internationalization strategy could enhance those ventures' survival and that immigration status moderates the effect of an early internationalization strategy on their survival. This study contributes to both immigrant and international entrepreneurship literature. Managerial and policy implications are also discussed.