FounderScholar

Exploring the science of startups

Research

Research Questions

My research stems from the following question:

How can early-stage founders successfully pursue their venture, while avoiding the negative aspects of startup life?

I am particularly interested in how early-stage founders build relationships with key stakeholders, including investors, co-founders, early customers, and key employees—and, of course, the outcomes of these relationships. Some of the variables I’m exploring are entrepreneur wellbeing, emotions, creativity, and motives, particularly during early-stage funding.

Research Methods

I consider my unique value proposition as a researcher to be my strong computer programming skills combined with my extensive entrepreneur and investor professional network that offers access to proprietary data sources.

I primarily conduct quantitative and computational (e.g. Text as Data, ML) research with data collected from online platforms, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, or Crunchbase. I also conduct experimental and cross-sectional studies, when that is appropriate for the research question.

Publications and Projects

Below are the works I’ve published or presented at research conferences. In addition, I’ve included my projects that are beyond the conceptual stage.

Dissertation

Taylor, K. P. (2020). Motive-goal congruence and entrepreneur well-being during early-stage fundraising: A longitudinal study using text analysis. [Doctoral Dissertation, DePaul University]. https://via.library.depaul.edu/business_etd/12/

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Gerstner, T., Taylor, K. P., Moon, L., & Butski, N. (2024). The language of crowdfunding: An exploratory study of entrepreneurial and other campaigns. International Journal of Business Communication, 61(3), 549–572. https://doi.org/10.1177/23294884231183933
Taylor, K. P., Tichenor, J., Carrick, J., & Croom, R. (2023). To pursue B Corp certification as a startup: A view through the lens of the business model canvas. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 88(2), 3–12. https://journal.samnational.org/archive/vol88ed02/vol88ed02r01/

Book Chapters

Taylor, K. P. (2019). Angel investor-entrepreneur fit: The nexus of angel motivation and entrepreneur personality and passion. In A. Caputo & M. Pellegrini (Eds.), The Anatomy of Entrepreneurial Decisions (pp. 197–210). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19685-1_9

Invited Presentations

Taylor, K. P. (2021). Academic jobs 101 [Invited]. Doctorate in Business Administration, DePaul University [virtual].
Taylor, K. P. (2021). The productive DBA [Invited]. Doctorate in Business Administration, DePaul University [virtual].

Conference Presentations

Taylor, K. P., Golden, J., Weaver, K., Shore, M., Kerr, J., & Naquin, C. E. (2022). Entrepreneurs’ use of impression management within LinkedIn profiles. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2022, 11334. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.11334abstract
Papadimitriou, A., Taylor, K. P., & Schiffecker, S. (2021). How elite US and German universities “speak” to their stakeholders during crisis: Computer-aided text analysis of COVID-19 tweets [Conference]. CIES 2021. https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/cies/cies21/index.php?cmd=Online+Program+View+Paper&selected_paper_id=1711218&PHPSESSID=52uqg4dhftjs5btgh1plf0n21e
Papadimitriou, A., Taylor, K. P., & Schiffecker, S. (2021). Sense-making in organizational crisis communication during COVID-19: A computer-aided text analysis [Conference]. Eastern Academy of Management Conference 2021. https://www.openconf.org/EAM2021/s71.html
Taylor, K. P. (2020). Computer-aided text analysis for management researchers [Professional Development Workshop]. Eastern Academy of Management Conference, Online.
Taylor, K. P. (2019). Computer-aided text analysis for any management researcher [Professional Development Workshop]. Midwest Academy of Management Conference, Omaha, NE, USA.
Taylor, K. P. (2018). Angel investor motivations in entrepreneur and firm evaluation [Conference]. MBAA International, Chicago, Illinois.
Taylor, K. P. (2018). Angel investor personality and motivations in entrepreneur evaluation [Conference]. Eastern Academy of Management Conference, Providence, RI.
Taylor, K. P. (2018). Angel investor motivation as a predictor of investment evaluation [Conference]. Midwest Academy of Management Conference, St. Louis, MO.

Teaching and Industry Articles

Taylor, K. P., & Martin, W. (2022). Spinning ourselves around: How to manage the emotional turmoil of crises. Entrepreneur & Innovation Exchange. https://eiexchange.com/content/spinning-ourselves-around-how-to-manage-the-emotional-turmoil-of
Taylor, K. P. (2021, February 17). Writing for entrepreneurs: Engage through clarity. Entrepreneur & Innovation Exchange. https://eiexchange.com/content/Writing-for-entrepreneurs-engage-through-clarity

Works in Progress

Martin, W., & Taylor, K. P. (n.d.). Biopsychosocial theory of entrepreneurship.