Entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth, yet much remains to be understood about what distinguishes successful entrepreneurs from those who are not. While incubators are often seen as solutions to start-up failure by addressing funding and support gaps, mixed outcomes suggest deeper variables at play. Building on the framework of previous work related to Entrepreneurial Intuition (Fleckenstein, 2021; Fleckenstein & Smith, 2023), this presentation leverages life story interviews with nine entrepreneurs to investigate formative experiences that contribute to Entrepreneurial Confidence and how they manifest as a core knowledge area for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial Confidence is explored not simply as self-belief but as a nuanced construct shaped by experience, conviction, and an entrepreneur’s relationship with uncertainty. The preliminary themes suggest that Entrepreneurial Confidence may be a foundational element to success for an entrepreneur. However, Entrepreneurial Confidence is often overlooked in program and funding design and policies. Implications for future research and practice include incubator program design, entrepreneurial education curriculum, and risk perspectives taken by bank and non-bank organizations. This work aims to initiate a new dialogue on the psychological and developmental foundations of entrepreneurship and how they can be intentionally cultivated.

Kristopher Fleckenstein is currently completing his PhD at Heriot-Watt while working as the Head of Product Enablement & Pricing for ATB Financial, a thriving regional bank. Kristopher holds an MBA and is a PMP® , having earned these credentials while completing 21 acquisitions and successfully navigating entrepreneurial life for nearly 20 years. Kristopher has a keen interest in entrepreneurial development and supporting such an ecosystem efficiently and practically.