He has also studied multiple factors that impact entrepreneurship, including asymmetry of information on employee qualifications, the relevance of shared ethnic backgrounds, and bankruptcy protection regimes.

Hegde is also the founder and director of entrepreneurship programs notable for their practical pedagogy in helping real-life start-ups commercialize scientific innovations by bringing together scientists, business managers, and investors.

[3][4] Hegde has credited professors David C. Mowery, Bronwyn Hall, and Bhaven Sampat, as mentors influential in his work.

[5][15][16][17][7][18][19] Hegde is also the academic director of NYU's Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship, which provides education, coaching, and funding for startups.

He posited that employers assess potential workers based on their educational qualifications, especially early in their careers when there is little direct information on their work accomplishments and productivity.

[25] The conclusion is that entrepreneurs have higher ability scores, lower levels of educational attainment, as well as greater and more variable earnings.

Conversely, the research also showed that when ultimately-approved patents experienced protracted review processes, those growth rates were significantly dampened.

[28][29] Hegde posited that patents facilitate information sharing between potential investors and startups, and generate more investments to fuel their growth.

Investors can more confidently invest in firms that hold patents as those serve as indicators of greater quality and potential success.

[38][39][40] The U.S. Congress aimed to curb the power of lobbyists through a 2010 ban on setting aside money in bills for specific projects, known as earmarks.