David M. Townsend

Academic Area(s)

Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, Technology Management

Research and Teaching Interests

My research focuses on capital acquisition processes including crowdfunding, angel investments, and venture capital. I also conduct research on growth strategies, organizational development, and CEO decision-making in technology-oriented companies. I maintain an active publishing stream in most of the top entrepreneurship and management academic journals and my research has been highlighted in business-oriented press outlets such as Gigaom.com/The New York Times.com, BusinessWeek, TechCrunch, TechJournal South, BizEd among many others.

Based on lessons learned from both my research and prior service in several entrepreneurial ventures, I teach a variety of courses in strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation management, and data analytics.

Education

• Ph.D. Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma, 2008
• M.Mgt. Oral Roberts University, 2004
• B.A. Oral Roberts University, 1998

Selected Publications

Townsend, D.M. & Busenitz, L.W. 2014. Turning water into wine? Exploring the role of dynamic capabilities in early-stage capitalization processes. Journal of Business Venturing, In Press.

Townsend, D.M., Mitchell, J.R., Busenitz, L.W., & Mitchell, R.K. 2014. The eclipse and new dawn of individual differences research. Routledge Companion on Entrepreneurship, (Frederike Welter & Ted Baker, eds.), In Press.

Haines, H. & Townsend, D.M. 2013. Self-doubt and entrepreneurial persistence: How founders of high-growth ventures transform negative mental states to overcome self-doubt and persist with their ventures. In Andrew C. Corbett, Jerome A. Katz (eds.) Entrepreneurial Resourcefulness: Competing with Constraints (Advances in Entrepreneurship, Firm Emergence, and Growth, Volume 15) , Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 94-124.

Townsend, D.M. 2012. Captains of their own destiny? Towards a theory of entrepreneurial agency in firm survival. Advances in Entrepreneurship, Firm Emergence, and Growth: Entrepreneurial Action Vol. 14. (Jerry Katz and Andrew Corbett, eds.), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.125-160.

Townsend, D.M., Busenitz, L.W., & Arthurs, J.D. 2010. To start or not to start? Ability and outcome expectations in the decision to start to a new entrepreneurial venture. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(2): 192-202.

Mitchell, J.R., Hart, T.A., Valcea, S., Townsend, D.M., 2009. Becoming the Boss: Discretion and post-succession success in family firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(6): 1201-1218.

Townsend, D.M. & Busenitz, L.W. 2008. Factor payments, resource-based bargaining, and the creation of firm wealth in technology-based ventures. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 2(4): 339-355.

Townsend, D.M. & Hart, T.A. 2008. Perceived institutional ambiguity and the choice of organizational form in social entrepreneurial ventures. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 32(4): 685-700.

Positions Held

2014 - Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Virginia Tech

2008 - 2011, 2012 - 2014: Assistant Professor/Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, North Carolina State University

2011 - 2012: Assistant Professor, Management & Entrepreneurship Division, The University of Oklahoma

Selected Honors and Awards

• 2012 Best Social Entrepreneurship Paper Award – Academy of Management
• Outstanding Reviewer Award, Journal of Business Venturing: 2010 & 2011.