Virtual World Entrepreneurship

Virtual worlds are three-dimensional environments in which individuals represented by avatars can buy and sell virtual content and real world products. Virtual world entrepreneurs have been able to generate significant, real world profits in these simulated environments. Extending the work of Zhao, Seibert, and Hills [1], the authors examine the role of virtual world technology self-efficacy and virtual world entrepreneurial learning as indirect predictors of virtual world entrepreneurial intentions. Findings from three waves of data collected during a field study reveal that virtual world entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates these relationships. Implications and future research on entrepreneurship in virtual worlds are discussed.