Abstract: Based on resource-based theory, social network theory and life cycle theory，the relationship between resource identification and acquisition and growth of new ventures during start-up and growth stage has been explored. The results show that complementary resources, similarity status and interaction of them have significant impact on performance of new ventures. Age of new ventures has different moderating effects on the relationships. In the period of start-up stage, complementary resources has more significant impact on performance of new ventures than similarity status. In the period of growth stage, similarity status has more significant impact on performance of new ventures than complementary resources, and similarity status can effectively promote the impact of complementary resources on the performance of new ventures in the growth stage.The conclusions have important enlightenments of management practices on how to identify and acquisite resources according to the different development stage of new ventures. Furthermore, The conclusions enrich and deepen resource integration theory and decisive factors of growth stage theory of new ventures.

Key words:  resource identification and acquisition, complementary resources, similarity status, growth cycle, dynamic matching