Start-ups and Start-up Ecosystems: Theories, Models and Case Studies in the Mediterranean Area
Start-ups and Start-up Ecosystems: Theories, Models and Case Studies in the Mediterranean Area
Contributor(s): Domenico Nicoló (Editor)
Subject(s): Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration, Business Ethics
Published by: ASERS Publishing
Keywords: entrepreneurship; start-up; innovative; business plan; venture creation.
Summary/Abstract: Mediterranean ecosystems are populated mostly by small family businesses. As a consequence of the central role played by the family in the countries in this area of the world, members of a single family hold the property and deal with the management of companies. This, on the one hand, constitutes strength of these companies, which benefit from high internal cohesion that makes it very resistant to the difficulties; on the other hand, affects their potential for growth and technological innovation, since the human and financial resources of a family are often insufficient to successfully implement a development strategy. Until now, small family businesses have faced internal competition and international in various ways: creating districts to make ‗critical mass‘ and survive the competition exerted by larger companies; specializing in productions that cannot be easily imitated, because highly differentiated (Made in Italy‘); operating in areas protected from foreign competition because they consist of small businesses operating in local markets, with low capital intensity and low added value.The tremendous acceleration of technological development requires these small family businesses to overcome this financial gap, managerial, and know-how that does not allow to exploit their development potential. This need also arises (perhaps especially) for innovative businesses at start up and, in general, for newly established firms. This does not mean that the Mediterranean should imitate the Anglo Saxon model based on big corporations, private equity and efficient capital markets. Quite the contrary. Any attempt to imitate this model would be destined to a resounding failure because inconsistent with the widespread entrepreneurial culture in the Mediterranean countries.The big corporations operating in the Anglo-Saxon world, are facing the fierce competition of startups that introduce innovations that generate discontinuities jeopardizing their business model. The need to standardize processes makes them unwieldy and unsuitable to promote innovation. An obstacle to innovation derives from the need to neutralize the risks typical of radical innovations in product and process. To cope with this problem, they are creating spin offs, through which experience innovations outside (thus neutralizing the risks), and acquiring innovative startups that have already achieved success in the market (and therefore are not very risky).
Series: Oeconomica ASERS Collection
- E-ISBN-13: 978-606-8689-07-4
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-606-8689-06-7
- Page Count: 279
- Publication Year: 2014
- Language: English
Corporate Reputation, Business Plan and Start-up Sustainability
Corporate Reputation, Business Plan and Start-up Sustainability
(Corporate Reputation, Business Plan and Start-up Sustainability)
- Author(s):Domenico Nicoló, Natale Ferrara
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:12-33
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:startup planning; business survival; corporate reputation; business plan; sustainability; strategic planning for startup
- Summary/Abstract:Many young companies do not survive the first stage of life. This trend is typical of these young companies because the low survival rates characterize these companies regardless of the year they were started, industry and country of operation (in the fifth paragraph of this chapter the findings of the analysis are shown). For this reason, the cause of their fragility is to be found in what companies have in common in the early years of their life. These distinguishing factors differentiate those ones that have already passed the first stage of life. Young companies do not have a history demonstrating the ability to meet the expectations of customers, investors, lenders, strategic partners, suppliers, and dealers. Therefore, the main cause of the fragility of the new businesses is the lack of a reputation. Although different in many other characteristics, young companies have an inherent lack of reputation making them very vulnerable. This weakness actually characterizes newly established firms, distinguishing them from those ones that have passed the first stage of life. The phenomena and events of context affecting the survival of businesses cannot be influenced by individual companies. For this reason, typical problems affecting young businesses’ survival should be prevented prior to birth of the enterprise. The business plan is the ideal tool to detect these problems and prevent them. Analyzing the assumptions underlying the strategic plan: errors and inconsistencies in the start-up strategy can be identified. In this way, any genetic defects of the enterprise can be prevented and it will be more resistant to the difficulties of the initial stage. The business plan is useful to quickly build corporate reputation and to create strong and lasting bonds of trust with stakeholders who provide the resources needed to achieve long-term sustainability.
- Price: 25.00 €
Institutional Framework Conditions and Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Motivations
Institutional Framework Conditions and Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Motivations
(Institutional Framework Conditions and Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Motivations)
- Author(s):Bettina Bastian, Mohammed Reza Zali, Maryam Mirzaei
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:34-54
- No. of Pages:21
- Keywords:institutional setting; entrepreneurial attitudes; motivation; performance; ecosystems
- Summary/Abstract:Entrepreneurship takes place within a larger framework of conditions that affect new ventures and businesses. Parts of this framework are legal, regulatory and policy institutions as defined by national or local governments. In the following chapter, we study the correlation between institutional setting and entrepreneurial attitudes, motivation and performance. We use cross sectional survey data from entrepreneurial firms in the Middle East and North Africa, where most countries have weak formal state institutions. However, many initiatives in the region have been undertaken to strengthen entrepreneurship by creating viable ecosystems and fostering innovative mindsets. Regarding the correlation of institutions with attitudes and motivation, previous literature shows that attitudes are important precursors to entrepreneurial intention, and motivation transforms intentions into entrepreneurial behavior. Our research finds that both variables are positively correlated with institutional factors, but motivation is most susceptible to institutional framework conditions. This suggests that any initiative that does not involve a change in formal institutions affecting business in the region must remain suboptimal. These institutions have the most impact on entrepreneurial motivations, and are therefore essential for bridging the gap between entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors, engaging therefore more entrepreneurs.
- Price: 25.00 €
A Managerial Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility for Start-ups in Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia
A Managerial Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility for Start-ups in Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia
(A Managerial Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility for Start-ups in Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia)
- Author(s):Irina-Eugenia Iamandi, Laura-Gabriela Constantin, Sebastian Mădălin Munteanu
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:55-78
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:corporate social responsibility (CSR); start-ups; Romania; Bulgaria; Croatia,; comparative analysis; competitive advantages
- Summary/Abstract:The main objective of this chapter is to emphasize and provide a comparative analysis between the development of corporate social responsibility in start-ups in the newest member countries of the European Union – three Southeastern European countries bordering on the Black Sea (Romania and Bulgaria) and the Mediterranean Sea (Croatia). Three theoretical propositions are tested and particularly confirmed for the start-ups in the analyzed countries, envisaging the importance of this type of firms after the countries’ accession to the EU and the corporate social responsibility development especially for supporting business objectives. A series of similarities and differences between the empirically investigated start-ups in the three countries are identified and analyzed in order to offer a thorough managerial approach for designing and implementing corporate social responsibility in start-ups at strategic, functional and operational levels. The results reveal that social, environmental, educational or sports objectives are not separately supported from the everyday business operations, but they are an integral part of the corporate activities and they pertain to the inner essence of the investigated companies. Considering the financial restraints burdening startups, a set of measures are finally proposed for affirming the business sustainability on the long-run and benefitting of the advantages induced by corporate responsible behavior.
- Price: 25.00 €
The Academic Incubator as a Fluid Mosaic: An Ecological Interpretive Framework
The Academic Incubator as a Fluid Mosaic: An Ecological Interpretive Framework
(The Academic Incubator as a Fluid Mosaic: An Ecological Interpretive Framework)
- Author(s):Giovanni Battista Dagnino
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:79-89
- No. of Pages:21
- Keywords:academic incubators; fluid mosaic model; incubator strategic entrepreneurship; governing policy; entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Summary/Abstract:Extant incubator research has offered attention to the description of incubator facilities and structure. At the same time, less consideration has been given to the incubatees (Hackett and Dilt, 2004), and more specifically to network activities (private as well as business-related) among firms located in this type of incubator. Therefore, additional research is required to investigate incubators’ internal functioning mechanisms, identifying the key elements that positively influence the establishment and development of new ventures within it. To improve our understanding of incubation internal dynamics and relationship evolution, we propose a conceptual framework that looks at the academic incubator on the ground of the cell biology-rooted fluid mosaic model, which is related to the cell membrane structure, as a fruitful way to look at incubatee relationships. We illustrate the benefits of this vantage viewpoint for looking at new venture development within the incubator and present a few key implications for incubator strategic entrepreneurship and governing policy.
- Price: 25.00 €
The Role of Business Plan Competitions in the Processes of Defining and Launching a New Venture Cases of Companies Involved in the ‘StartCup’ Palermo and Developed Inside the ARCA Academic Incubator
The Role of Business Plan Competitions in the Processes of Defining and Launching a New Venture
Cases of Companies Involved in the ‘StartCup’ Palermo and Developed Inside the ARCA Academic Incubator
(The Role of Business Plan Competitions in the Processes of Defining and Launching a New Venture
Cases of Companies Involved in the ‘StartCup’ Palermo and Developed Inside the ARCA Academic Incubator)
- Author(s):Marcantonio Ruisi
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:90-112
- No. of Pages:23
- Keywords:ARCA Academic Incubator; business plan; new venture; business competition
- Summary/Abstract:In the last decade there has been a proliferation of business plan and start-up competitions, most of them organized by universities. This chapter reflects on the effectiveness of these competitions, starting from a theoretical framework, and analyzing the experience of some Sicilian entrepreneurs and their business histories. Attention is paid to three companies that made their debut by participating in two editions of the StartCup – a business plan competition sponsored by the University of Palermo - and who were later differently involved in ARCA academic incubator.
- Price: 25.00 €
TecnoCampus Mataró, Full Start-up Ecosystem Development
TecnoCampus Mataró, Full Start-up Ecosystem Development
(TecnoCampus Mataró, Full Start-up Ecosystem Development)
- Author(s):Jordi Mas
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:113-125
- No. of Pages:13
- Keywords:entrepreneurship; start-up; ecosystem; university; local government; TecnoCampus; Mataró
- Summary/Abstract:The traditional concept of entrepreneurship ecosystem is revisited and new elements such as the evolution, the size and the ‘energy flow’ understood as knowledge flow are proposed for further research. TecnoCampus Mataró is defined as a small medium size start-up ecosystem that could act as a model for the development in Southern and Northern Mediterranean area. The role of local government for the spatial aggregation of entrepreneurial activity is shown.
- Price: 25.00 €
Smart City Initiatives, Public Real Estate Strategic Management and New Venture Creation
Smart City Initiatives, Public Real Estate Strategic Management and New Venture Creation
(Smart City Initiatives, Public Real Estate Strategic Management and New Venture Creation)
- Author(s):Nicolò Domenico, Vermiglio Carlo, Fio Alberto, Giuseppe Valenza
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:126-145
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:public property valorization; smart city initiatives; entrepreneurship; Local Governments; public real estate management
- Summary/Abstract:During the last decade, scholars have been involved in an interesting debate around the development of the so called Smart City Initiatives, based on the following pillars: ICT, human capital, mobility, environment etc. This chapter focuses on the role played by public property assets within the framework of the Smart City initiatives, with a specific focus on those programs that aim to develop entrepreneurial ecosystems. It provides a theoretical framework that could be a useful reference for decision – making concerning the public property portfolio management, moreover in a period of strong financial constraints, might stimulate the birth of innovative firms, the growth of those ones already existing, as well as enhance the cities attractiveness for start-ups coming from different geographical areas. At this regards, this study shows some successful cases from the Mediterranean Area.
- Price: 25.00 €
Requirement for Assessment of the Technology on Healthcare. An Opportunity for Start-ups and Spin-offs
Requirement for Assessment of the Technology on Healthcare. An Opportunity for Start-ups and Spin-offs
(Requirement for Assessment of the Technology on Healthcare. An Opportunity for Start-ups and Spin-offs)
- Author(s):Anselmi Luca
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:146-166
- No. of Pages:21
- Keywords:healthcare services; assessment of technology; start-ups; Health Technology Assessmen
- Summary/Abstract:One the most important issues in the healthcare system is the definition and application of a systematic methodology to assess the effects of the introduction of new technologies. This process implies a significant degree of uncertainty arising from issues related to subjectivity and exogenous factors. In particular, this research project aims at defining and implementing an appropriate methodology to relate the incremental contribution arising from the use of innovative technologies to the costs associated with their introduction. The context and scope of our analysis are quite complex because they need pre-determined evaluation algorithms associated with the difficulty of representing, by using a standardized process, the variety of cases considered, with the peculiarities of the organizational fields and with the edge of discretion in the diagnostic process. As a consequence, from a methodological point of view, the approach of our research is based on the necessary empirical testing of hypotheses associated with a careful process of interpretation aimed at verifying the consistency of the results obtained against the investigation context and historical and doctrinal continuity. The research was completed by experts, scholars and researchers based on multidisciplinary knowledge in order to catalyze the different skills that may be involved in a contextual and systematic study of health technologies, thus offering a scientific contribution to theory-building and impact several technology application areas. New start-ups sponsored by Hospitals, Universities, Regions and Local Health Authorities may conduct assessments of how technology investments impact on healthcare organizations. The business model could be based on the perceptions of the providers and users of these technologies, on the actual use and degree of implementation of technologies in connection with the skills to be developed for a full exploitation of potential applications, and on the increase of (expected and actually achieved) performances compared to instrumental and procedural alternative solutions, by using assessment processes calibrated according to preset cognitive purposes.In healthcare, assessment of technical innovation could represent an opportunity to: a) pursue quality improvement of the healthcare services and economic sustainability and b) to disclose interesting business opportunities for startups and spin-offs.
- Price: 25.00 €
Insights into the Swiss Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and Implications for the Mediterranean Region
Insights into the Swiss Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and Implications for the Mediterranean Region
(Insights into the Swiss Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and Implications for the Mediterranean Region)
- Author(s):Peter Vogel, Stefano Baruffaldi
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:167-185
- No. of Pages:17
- Keywords:startup planning; business survival; corporate reputation; business plan; sustainability; strategic planning for startup
- Summary/Abstract:Many young companies do not survive the first stage of life. This trend is typical of these young companies because the low survival rates characterize these companies regardless of the year they were started, industry and country of operation (in the fifth paragraph of this chapter the findings of the analysis are shown). For this reason, the cause of their fragility is to be found in what companies have in common in the early years of their life. These distinguishing factors differentiate those ones that have already passed the first stage of life. Young companies do not have a history demonstrating the ability to meet the expectations of customers, investors, lenders, strategic partners, suppliers, and dealers.
- Price: 25.00 €
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Lebanon. Challenges and Opportunities
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Lebanon. Challenges and Opportunities
(The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Lebanon. Challenges and Opportunities)
- Author(s):Bettina Bastian, Yasser Akkaoui
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:186-205
- No. of Pages:20
- Keywords:entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lebanon; entrepreneurship; start-ups; incubator organizations,; economic development
- Summary/Abstract:The following article describes the EES in Lebanon as an example of a country in development. Worldwide, and especially in the developing world, economies face major challenges regarding the alleviation of poverty and unemployment (Naude 2010). Here, the demands for entrepreneurial projects that help stimulate growth and forward the economic development process are very high (Ho and Wong, 2007). Still much of the literature in entrepreneurship addresses the context of advanced economies. However, the majority of people live in a developmental context and nearly half of them are below the poverty line (ILO 2012). Thus, it is important to pay closer attention to entrepreneurship in developmental contexts which typically face great institutional weaknesses and constraints.
- Price: 25.00 €
Equity-based Crowdfunding in the Italian Experience
Equity-based Crowdfunding in the Italian Experience
(Equity-based Crowdfunding in the Italian Experience)
- Author(s):Antonio Del Pozzo, Loprevite Salvatore
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:206-231
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:crowdfunding; equity-based crowdfunding; innovative start-ups
- Summary/Abstract:The needs of strategic services, prevalence of investments in intangible assets and difficulty in finding the financial resources to support the development plans are the main factors that hinder recourse by start-ups to traditional sources of financing, getting them to refer to specialized investors, typically, venture capitalists, who request, in addition to financial resources, also financial services, like guarantees, and strategic services, for example, for internationalization, promotion, and so on.In the United States, an alternative form of financing to the specialized investors has become popular: crowdfunding. This is financing in various forms by a multitude of subjects. In Italy, even responding to the constraints laid down by the MiFID regulations, but only nation in Europe, the Legislators have qualified the phenomenon of start-up and regulated the equity-based crowdfunding as an alternative method that allows enterprises to intercept equity from the savings.The aim of this chapter is to establish whether the Italian start-ups consider the equity-based crowdfunding favorably for their needs of financial resources and other services, and if this attempt by the Legislators to regulate a typically informal phenomenon can be considered effective. In addition to providing a framework of the structure and financing strategies for innovative start-ups, this chapter will also allow understanding what are the prospects and limits of crowdfunding developing in Italy. Specifically, whether the current legislative regulation may be a model to be exported to other countries.
- Price: 25.00 €
Investments in Innovative Start-ups: The Current Italian Legal Framework
Investments in Innovative Start-ups: The Current Italian Legal Framework
(Investments in Innovative Start-ups: The Current Italian Legal Framework)
- Author(s):Giuseppe Pizzonia, Domenico Antonio Multari
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
- Page Range:232-255
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:start-ups; certified incubator; tax incentives; tax credit; fiscal policies; tax incentives
- Summary/Abstract:The aim of this chapter is to outline some of the provisions concerning the Italian framework for innovative start-ups. In this regard, it describes the characteristics and legal requirements to qualify as ‘innovative start-ups’, ‘innovative start-ups with a social goal’ and ‘certified incubators’. In addition, attention is paid to the tax incentives for investing in innovative start-up businesses, including those with social aims. Furthermore, an overview is provided of the reasoning of the EU Commission in authorizing such incentives that are found to be state aid compatible with the internal market. In conclusion the paper underlines the difficulties in designing a start-up tax regime that proves to be effective, i.e. capable of promoting investment while at the same time preventing practices aimed at obtaining illegitimate advantages.
- Price: 25.00 €
