Abstract
The changing geopolitical landscape has led to a growing relevance of dual-use startups. Yet, the drivers of entrepreneurial intentions in this context remain insufficiently understood. While prior research has predominantly focused on civilian entrepreneurship, this study addresses the emerging gap by examining the configurational interplay of individual and contextual factors influencing the intention to found dual-use ventures. Drawing on a dataset from members of a university of armed forces, the study applies fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to reveal the combinations of factors that lead entrepreneurs to found a dual-use startup. The findings reveal, for example, that political orientation and prior military experience play a significant role. The study highlights the motivations in dual-use entrepreneurship and thus contributes to innovation management theory and additionally offers practical implications for universities, policymakers, and innovation managers aiming to foster dual-use entrepreneurship. Keywords: dual-use entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intentions, fsQCA, political orientation, military experience, innovation management