Pyayt Oo

Dr. Pyayt Oo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at the College of Business, The University of Texas at Arlington. His academic work centers on entrepreneurial resource acquisition, innovation, and crowdfunding dynamics, with a strong focus on how entrepreneurs’ verbal and nonverbal behaviors influence investor decisions. He has published extensively in top-tier journals including Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, and Journal of Small Business Management.

• PhD, Business Administration – Washington State University (2017)
• BS, Computing and Information Systems – London Metropolitan University (2007)

Dr. Oo’s research interests span entrepreneurial resource acquisition, crowdfunding, user innovation, and entrepreneurial communication. He investigates how linguistic speech acts, authenticity displays, and identity signaling shape funding outcomes. His work integrates psychology, sociology, and management to understand the micro-foundations of entrepreneurial success.

His recent publications reveal a consistent trend in analyzing the social and cognitive dimensions of crowdfunding, particularly how entrepreneurs craft narratives, signal authenticity, and manage impressions to attract backers. Themes include cognitive style effects, reputation claims, serendipity, and perceived warmth and competence—all contributing to a deeper understanding of investor behavior in digital markets.

• New Venture Competition Faculty Fellow, Central Michigan University (2018)

Dr. Oo actively mentors graduate students, serving as Dissertation Committee Chair for Stephanie Escudero and Committee Member for Fredrick Rice, Jawaher Alotaibi, and Spencer Fraseur. He has been involved in significant research grants and editorial roles, including Associate Editor for Journal of Small Business Management and Editorial Review Board Member for Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice and Journal of Business Venturing. His service includes leadership in AI, diversity, and entrepreneurship initiatives at UTA.

He is actively engaged with research labs and teams through the Center for Entrepreneurship & Economic Innovation at UTA, where he serves as University Stewardship Council Member for Blackstone LaunchPad. He also mentors students in the Maverick Merit Fellowship Program and participates in pitch competitions and doctoral consortiums, fostering the next generation of entrepreneurial scholars.