Previous　research　has　found　that　entrepreneurs＇　empathy　promotes　personal　opportunity　identification.　However,　the　role　that　entrepreneurs＇　empathy　plays　at　the　firm　level　in　new　ventures　is　still　unclear.　This　study　explores　this　question　by　investigating　how　perspective　taking　and　empathic　concern,　which　respectively　represent　the　cognitive　and　affective　component　of　entrepreneurs＇　empathy,　influence　new　venture　performance　with　the　mediating　effects　of　entrepreneurial　orientation　(EO).　Based　on　an　empirical　study　with　341　new　ventures,　this　research　finds　a　positive　relationship　between　perspective　taking　and　new　venture　performance　and　a　curvilinear　relationship　between　empathic　concern　and　new　venture　performance.　In　addition,　both　of　these　relationships　are　mediated　by　EO.　This　study　sheds　light　on　distinct　impacts　of　the　entrepreneur＇s　perspective　taking　and　empathic　concern　at　the　firm　level,　enriches　the　antecedents　of　EO　from　the　cognitive　and　affective　factors　of　the　entrepreneur,　and　extends　the　implications　of　the　entrepreneur＇s　altruistic　dispositions　in　commercial　start-ups.