This paper offers exploratory insights into the factors influencing the emergence of new export ventures operating in a low-technology
sector: the aquaculture industry—a largely understudied context in international entrepreneurship. Peculiarities of new industries
can make them particularly favourable to the creation of new ventures, and yet research has been limited examining the role
of industry and environmental conditions in the emergence of international new ventures. As industry context and stage of
firm development influences the appropriateness of theories for explaining firm internationalisation, this study in particular
seeks to address two research questions: Firstly, what are the factors influencing the internationalisation of new ventures
in a low-technology sector: the Irish aquaculture industry? Second, what role does industry structure play in influencing
the internationalisation of new ventures in the Irish aquaculture industry? A qualitative methodology is used to explore these
research questions using three case studies of new export ventures operating in the aquaculture sector in Ireland.
Keywords International new ventures - Industry structure - Low-technology sector - Ireland