Abstract

The primary objective of this research study is to assess entrepreneurial profiles of young Chileans by using the Motivation Theory approach and the personal entrepreneurship characteristics (PEC) survey. The sample consists of 380 young Chileans (18 to 25 years old) from Talca, Chile. Cluster analysis using the k-means algorithm was used to process and analyze data. The results show the existence of two entrepreneurial profiles that differ mainly by age and by previous exposure to business activity through family ventures. This suggests that there is an impact of previous entrepreneurial training in the sample surveyed. In addition, the results show that planning and quality assurances are the most relevant skills to explain the profiles of both subgroups. This suggests the need to develop transversal skills such as opportunity detection and proactivity. It is concluded that exposure to entrepreneurial activities favors entrepreneurial motivation in young Chileans and that age is a relevant factor for training new entrepreneurs.