This study demonstrates the negative effect of social intelligence on the relationship between entrepreneurial talent and sustainable performance. The
entrepreneurial talent refers to the ability to carry out entrepreneurial activities. The negative moderating effect of social intelligence explains the importance of having work experience as a manner to develop necessary skills prior to starting up a new business. This study uses data from 91 entrepreneurs in technology based SMEs in Malaysia and employs structured equation modelling analysis. The results set a boundary condition to the generally presumed relationship between entrepreneurial talent and sustainable performance of SMEs, thereby improving the understanding of how these phenomena are related.
