Western-based research on international new ventures suggests that start-ups are able to internationalize more easily than other types of firms, particularly in globally connected technology-intensive industries. This study of 40 IT start-ups in China, Korea, and Japan reveals that most of these firms do not internationalize successfully. It identifies a variety of factors that deter East Asian start-ups from internationalizing, including large domestic markets, general resource and capability shortages, insufficient international market knowledge, international adaptation costs, and non-supportive home and host country policies. Findings suggest that start-ups in East Asia may not necessarily face lower internationalization barriers than established firms. Details and registration here