An entrepreneurial mindset encompasses a range of competencies and characteristics that are essential for individuals who are building new ventures either outside or inside an organisation. There has been significant research into this and a multitude of papers written. With a focus on cataloging these competencies as a basis for training and education, we have reviewed much of this documentation (the key ones of which are acknowledged and referenced below) and also brought our own experience in entrepreneurial education to bear.

With this intention of using this taxonomy to understand how to develop these competencies through education, training and hands-on activity-based learning, we have developed a set of 10 principal competencies, each with a number of sub-competencies below them. 

We have further classified them into capabilities (cognitive skills) that can be developed through education and characteristics (non-cognitive skills) developed through practice and experiential learning.This allows us to figure out the best way of helping students acquire these skills.

Below are the principal competencies. Click through to the sub-competencies.

These may then be used to both design entrepreneurial programs with a clear intention as to which competencies are being developed; and to measure the effectiveness of such.