%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2012 %T To Internationalize Rapidly from Inception: Crowdsource %A Elnaz Heidari %A Mohsen Akhavannia %A Nirosh Kannangara %K born global %K crowdsourcing %K entrepreneurship %K globalization %K internationalization %K startups %X Technology entrepreneurs continuously search for tools to accelerate the internationalization of their startups. For the purpose of internationalizing rapidly from inception, we propose that technology startups use crowdsourcing to internalize the tacit knowledge embodied in members of a crowd distributed across various geographies. For example, a technology startup can outsource to a large crowd the definition of a customer problem that occurs across various geographies, the development of the best solution to the problem, and the identification of attractive business expansion opportunities. In this article, we analyze how three small firms use crowdsourcing, discuss the benefits of crowdsourcing, and offer six recommendations to technology entrepreneurs interested in using crowdsourcing to rapidly internationalize their startups from inception. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 2 %P 17-21 %8 10/2012 %U http://timreview.ca/article/615 %N 10 %1 Carleton University Elnaz Heidari holds a Master of Engineering degree in Technology Innovation Management (TIM) from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Her M.Eng project was based on crowdsourcing and open innovation. She also holds a B.Eng in Rubber Industrial Engineering. Her industrial experience includes working in the R&D department of Pars Vacuum Industries for two years. %2 Carleton University Mohsen Akhavannia is a graduate student in the Technology Innovation Management (TIM) program at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He is a software engineer with expertise in system analysis and design. He has six years of international work experience including work on projects relating to banking and business-automation systems. %3 Carleton University Nirosh Kannangara is a graduate student in the Technology Innovation Management (TIM) program at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He holds a B.Eng. in Communications Engineering, also from Carleton University. Nirosh has two years of experience designing software in the fibre optics communication industry and currently works as a Photonics Software Designer at the Ciena Corporation. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/615