Takers and givers: Exploring the drivers of peer support in intra-incubator networks.

This paper examines the multifaceted nature and value of informal peer support networks within entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs). The study explores how entrepreneurs capture value from peers and create value for others through the exchange of knowledge and referrals, and what factors explain why some entrepreneurs act as providers (“givers”) while others primarily function as receivers (“takers”). Our analysis draws on original survey data collected from entrepreneurs in a Dutch incubator and applies social network analysis combined with regression techniques to disentangle the effects of founder-, venture-, and market-level sources of uncertainty. The findings indicate that firms in dynamic markets benefit most from peer networks, with younger firms deriving especially strong advantages from intra-ESO ties. We find no significant effects of tenure or intensity on the value founders capture from networks. In contrast, givers—typically entrepreneurs with longer tenure and greater daily presence—emerge as central sources of knowledge, advice, and referrals. These results contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how peer networks function in ESOs and suggest that ESO managers should design exit policies that balance individual benefits with the collective value created when experienced entrepreneurs share knowledge and referrals with peers.