Learning from design: The potential of entrepreneurial critique

In this paper we propose entrepreneurial critique (EC) as a critical missing piece in entrepreneurial methodology. We show how the practice of EC, derived from design critique, conceptually improves short and long-term entrepreneurial impact. We identify the value of EC as its ability to efficiently surface blind spots before they turn into costly failures. Analysis of entrepreneurial process literature and popular commercially or socially focused entrepreneurship instruction sets, show the absence of critiques or critique-like practices, and their failure to examine assumptions, anticipate second-order consequences, and refine problem framing before resources are committed to producing artifacts. We formally define entrepreneurial critique and proposition its impacts and conclude by analyzing cultural barriers to the adoption of critique in entrepreneurial education and practice.