ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET AND PERFORMANCE OF FINTECH START-UPS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY KENYA
ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET AND PERFORMANCE OF FINTECH START-UPS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY KENYA
Maina Evalyne Wangui - Msc. Scholar Entrepreneurship, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Ongwae Gichana - Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Performance comprises organizational structures, operational processes, and human factors, with the entrepreneurial mindset serving as a critical driver of improvement. This study investigated the performance of fintech start-ups in Nairobi City County by examining the role of the entrepreneurial mindset. Specifically, it sought to determine the influence of creativity and risk-taking propensity on the performance of fintech start-ups. The study was grounded in Effectuation Theory and Knight’s Risk-Bearing Theory. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected using structured questionnaires. The target population consisted of 191 fintech firms operating in Nairobi City County, with owners and managers as the units of observation. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28 and presented through descriptive, correlational, and inferential statistics. Multiple regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between entrepreneurial mindset variables and firm performance. The findings revealed a strong and significant influence of entrepreneurial factors on fintech start-up performance. Notably, creativity and risk-taking propensity exhibited positive and statistically significant relationships with overall business performance. These results contribute to both theoretical and empirical entrepreneurship literature, particularly in relation to the entrepreneurial mindset. Consequently, the study recommends that fintech leaders deliberately cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset to enhance sustainability, resilience, and overall performance.
