Entrepreneurial Passion and Product Innovation Intensity in New Ventures: Mediating Effects of Exploration and Exploitation Activities

In this paper, we examine the differential effects of entrepreneurial passion (EP) on product innovation intensity (PII) through the mediating mechanisms of exploration and exploitation activities. Using time‐lagged data from 260 new ventures from Ghana, we examine the direct relationships between the three domains of EP (i.e. inventing, developing and founding) and a new venture's PII. Further, we test the indirect relationships between the three domains of EP and PII through the mediating mechanisms of a new venture's exploration and exploitation activities. The empirical results provide a fine‐grained understanding of the relationship between EP, exploration and exploitation activities and PII. Implications for research and practice are also discussed.