258 Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2009 Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Entrepreneurship in emerging high-tech industries: ICT entrepreneurs between experts and kamikazes Frank Robert, Pierre Marquès and Frank Lasch* GSCM-Montpellier Business School 2300, Avenue des Moulins 34185 Montpellier Cedex 4, France Fax: +33 (0)4 67 45 13 56 E-mail: f.robert@supco-montpellier.fr E-mail: p.marques@supco-montpellier.fr E-mail: f.lasch@supco-montpellier.fr *Corresponding author Frédéric Le Roy University of Montpellier Espace Richter, Bât. E, Rue Vendémiaire – CS 19519 34960 Montpellier Cedex 2, France and GSCM-Montpellier Business School 2300, Avenue des Moulins 34185 Montpellier Cedex 4, France Fax: +33 (0)4 99 13 02 10 E-mail: frederic.le_roy@univ-montp1.fr Abstract: This study addresses a paradox: stakeholders agree upon the strategic importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) entrepreneurship, but little research provides empirical results to understand the ICT sector/entrepreneur. Analysing 469 entrepreneurs, the following specificities of ICT entrepreneurship in France were revealed: subsector differences, regional disparities, underrepresentation of female entrepreneurs, high qualification as prerequirement, insufficient preparation activities, a low level of entrepreneurship training and a surprisingly high proportion of necessity entrepreneurship. At the subsector level, four groups of entrepreneurs were identified: experienced cadre, ‘freshman’, well-prepared ‘provident’ and ‘kamikaze’. The ‘expert’ with industry experience contrasts with the inexperienced ‘freshman’. The careful preparer (‘provident’) displays a more technical profile, little management experience but the highest level of preparation of all four types. The opposite is the kamikaze: lack of specific knowledge, low educational level and little preparation. Implications for stakeholders (entrepreneurship support, venture capital) are suggested to assess and adjust measures for each type of entrepreneur. Keywords: high tech; Information and Communication Technologies; ICTs; entrepreneurship; description of entrepreneurs; types of entrepreneurs; typology of entrepreneurs; France.