When social networks built by formal and informal contacts contribute to the accomplishment of entrepreneurs' objectives, these networks are their social capital (BURT,1992). This study aims to understand how social networks are used by entrepreneurs in the construction of their social capital. Specifically, it analyzes what types of networks are developed by entrepreneurs and what resources are accessed by them in the businesses creation and development stages. A qualitative study of multiples cases was carried out in the north of Paraná state. Evidence was collected through semi-structured interviews with the entrepreneurs, observation and documents analysis. The results of this study suggest that in the creation and development phases, an entrepreneur's social networks grants access to different resources that meaningfully influence business results. Yet, from the idea that social capital is beneficial and can be derived from social networks, it is possible to state that the different resources accessed by the entrepreneurs contribute to the formation of their social capital.
Social networks; Entrepreneus social networks; Social capital; Entrepreneurship
