Networks can facilitate the emergence of ventures by providing four substantial benefits namely, augmenting the opportunity identification process, providing access to loci of resources, engendering timing advantages, and constituting a source of trust (Nicolaou and Birley, 2003a). During their pre- and post-formation stages, spinouts and their founders are involved in networks with two different entities, namely their parent organisation (university) and the industry (industry partners, investors, contractors etc.). Recognising the importance of networking in the spinout phenomenon, researchers explored the effect of networks on spinouts structure and performance.
