1. ¹INCAE, Graduate School of Business, Alajuela, Costa Rica
2. ²College of Business Administration, Florida International University, Miami, USA
3. ³London School of Economics, London UK

Correspondence: SK Kundu, International Business, College of Business Administration, Florida International University, 345B Ryder Business Building, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199 USA. Tel: +1 305 348 3251; Fax: +1 305 348 6146; E-mail: kundus@fiu.edu

Received 23 August 2007; Revised 27 November 2007; Accepted 13 December 2007; Published online 30 October 2008.

Abstract

This paper provides empirical evidence about born-global firms in the software industry of a small developing country with an open economy: Costa Rica. The paper is based on data collected through interviews with CEOs or founders of 40 Costa Rican software companies. Findings show that there are few born-global firms among Costa Rican software providers. We find that most companies followed a gradual approach to internationalization, and they did not export immediately upon birth. A careful analysis of firms that exported soon after they were born reveals that most firms are actually "born regional."