Digital entrepreneurial intentions and actions in China during the COVID-19 pandemic with policy implications

Despite the rapid development of digital start-ups and market expansion in China, there have been challenges for developing digital business in recent years. Unique economic, institutional, and social factors, as well as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, influence the digital entrepreneurs and their businesses. Yet, the literature on the changing digital entrepreneurial behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic remains limited. The intentions and behaviours of these entrepreneurs in relation to their digital start-ups and the impact caused by exogenous changes require deeper investigation. By adopting an intention-based social cognitive perspective, this study examines the factors influencing digital entrepreneurs’ intentions and actions in managing their start-ups. We also present a holistic framework with regard to the changing entrepreneurial behaviour and policy implications for the development of digital start-ups.