Born Global Firms

Born Global Firms describes companies that conduct international business at or near the founding of the firm. Despite the limited resources that usually characterize new businesses, these “Born Global” firms achieve substantial international sales from an early stage in their development. They internationalize rapidly—the period from domestic establishment to initial foreign market entry is often three or fewer years.

Born globals are emerging in sizable numbers worldwide. Until recently, international business was mainly the domain of large, well-resourced multinational enterprises (MNEs). The appearance of large numbers of born global firms is revolutionizing the traditional character of international business and helping reshape the global economy. This book helps managers and scholars understand the born global phenomenon.

We offer a comprehensive treatment of born globals, from distinctive features of these companies, to strategies that they use for international success, to implications of the phenomenon for international small- and medium-sized enterprises. We review useful theories and frameworks and introduce a new field based on the born global phenomenon international entrepreneurship. We provide a comprehensive literature review and an explanation of major theories that explain the born global firm. This complete guide to born global firms was written by leading experts in the field.

Specifically, we report on:

• The existence of born global firms around the world;
• Case studies of born global firms;
• Born globals as international small- and medium-sized enterprises;
• Facilitating factors in the emergence of born global firms;
• A literature review and key theories on born global firms for scholars;
• How the born global phenomenon challenges traditional internationalization theories;
• The critical role of entrepreneurial orientation in the emergence of born globals;
• Implications for managers of born globals and other small, internationalizing firms; and
• How born globals point to the future of international trade.