This　study　investigates　entrepreneurship　posture　and　new-venture　performance　in　Pakistan,　by　assessing　the　impact　on　the　performance　of　newly-established　ventures,　of　two　major　constructs:　entrepreneurial　predisposedness,　including　its　dimensions　of　innovativeness,　proactivity　and　risk　taking,　and　entrepreneurial　motivation.　The　research　model　and　its　pertinent　hypotheses　are　tested　through　structural　equation　modeling,　applied　on　the　data　gleaned　from　408　small　and　medium　enterprises　(SMEs)　upstarts.　The　results　show　that　two　entrepreneurial-predisposedness　dimensions,　i.e.,　proactivity　and　risk　taking,　might　have　a　significant　positive　effect　on　new-venture　performance,　with　innovativeness　showing　an　insignificant　positive　effect.　Entrepreneurial　motivation　also　seems　to　have　a　significant　positive　effect　on　new-venture　performance.　Despite　its　limitations,　the　study　contends　that　uplifting　the　entrepreneurial　motivation　and　predisposedness　of　SMEs　upstart　owners,　partners　and　managers　will　enhance　new-venture　performance　in　Pakistan,　while　also　discussed　are　implications　for　future　research　and　practice.　©　2019　-　IOS　Press　and　the　authors.　All　rights　reserved.