Passion: The Motivation Behind Venture Work

Abstract

This chapter examines how entrepreneurial work is being compensated for and what role motivational factors play when making the career decision to work in the life sciences and in a life science venture. Studies show that entrepreneurial work is not compensating for higher market-risk exposure in current employment contracts, which is comparable to a lower pay given the stipulated level of risk. The empirical material reported still reveals that venture workers are by and large pleased with their career choice and their employment conditions, giving them the chance to contribute to a domain of work that is regarded as being meaningful, to work on a team that creates a sense of espirit de corps, and to work in a smaller company with better possibilities for transparent activities. In this view, venture work offers possibilities for meaningful and rewarding work, regardless of higher levels of economic insecurity.