Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a socially embedded process influenced by the interaction between individual competencies and social frameworks. This research introduces an Integrated Model of Nascent Entrepreneurial Development (IMNED) that consolidates social capital and human capital as synergistic resources facilitating entrepreneurial emergence and initial success. Utilizing Resource-Based Theory (RBT), Social Network Theory (SNT), and Human Capital Theory (HCT), the model conceptualizes entrepreneurial development as an interactive process wherein knowledge, education, and skills (human capital) are activated and enhanced through network ties, trust, and social support (social capital). A quantitative, cross-sectional study was performed utilizing data from 420 emerging entrepreneurs in the technology, service, and creative sectors. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine direct, mediating, and moderating effects among human capital (education, prior experience, self-efficacy), social capital (network density, relational trust, information exchange), and entrepreneurial outcomes (opportunity recognition, venture readiness, and early performance). The findings indicate that social capital partially mediates the relationship between human capital and entrepreneurial outcomes, implying that knowledge is inadequate in isolation and must be integrated within socially cohesive networks. Additionally, human capital improves the quality of network use, showing that cognitive and relational resources work together in both directions. This study enhances entrepreneurship theory by integrating individual-centric and network-based perspectives, highlighting that nascent entrepreneurship is a co-evolutionary process involving learning, networking, and capability development. The consequences pertain to entrepreneurial education, incubator initiatives, and policy measures designed to cultivate inclusive and knowledge-based ecosystems.