The purpose of the paper is to identify facilitating and redundant components of core competence development during the growth of international new ventures (INVs). Through a longitudinal empirical study comparing three cases based on a large number of interviews, we describe how individual competences essential for the start-up firm (entrepreneurial, market and network) over three phases (small, youth and mature) eventually become redundant or transform into institutionalised routines. An INV built on technology competence needs to combine with market competences, preferably in parallel, for ideal market development. To expand further, the entrepreneurial competence ultimately should be reduced or omitted. To boost expansion, explicate visions and policies should be added to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit and legacy, and to guide employees. Copyright ©2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.