The influences on business students to become entrepreneurs

This paper aims to find out whether there is a desire of students from eight different business administration’s colleges of Sao Paulo to start a new business. The research approach was qualitative, based on a questionnaire with open and closed questions, applied to 349 students. Through the analysis of the empirical data, the trend of young people’s great interest in entrepreneurship was observed. They are highly motivated by the opportunity they see of a new business. With respect to gender differences, it was shown that young males are more interested than young females in starting their own business, unlike other recent research. Among those who want to start a new business, most state that the family influences this choice and that the business administration college has helped to increase their interest. They believe they know little about the risks of starting a new business and need more experience. The subject of this research emerged due to the increasing participation of young people in entrepreneurial activities in Brazil. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the future entrepreneurs of the country, and points out some weaknesses and barriers in the entrepreneurial activity.   Key words: Entrepreneurship in Brazil, young entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial education.