Background: In order to create and grow a successful start-up, entrepreneurs need a variety of resources. To obtain these easier, many entrepreneurs move to entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE), where resources are abundant and more accessible. Moreover, being close to target markets gets less relevant, as globalization and digitalization enable one to easily sell products and services worldwide. As a result, we can observe a new phenomenon that we call starling entrepreneurs. These are foreign entrepreneurs moving to an EE to benefit from its resources in order to serve one or various foreign markets. They are different from existing concepts in literature as they do not specifically come to the EE to enter the local market. Additionally, they are newcomers and foreigners in the EE, lacking local embeddedness. Purpose: Our purpose is to build a theory on how starling entrepreneurs navigate the new EE and mobilize resources. This way, we introduce the concept of starling entrepreneurs to the entrepreneurship literature. Method: We took a qualitative approach to this research. It is designed as an explorative single case study and situated in the context of the EE in Lisbon, Portugal. For data analysis, we chose the Gioia method for grounded analysis. Conclusion: The results show that starling entrepreneurs navigate the EE by integrating themselves during the first weeks and building the foundation to access resources. We call this building a new nest. They then leverage this nest to mobilize the resources within the EE. However, to our surprise, we also acknowledged that starling entrepreneurs preserve nests abroad to mobilize resources outside the EE. Our study contributes to knowledge on how resources are mobilized within EEs and how networks of weak ties enable entrepreneurs to get access to a large resource pool. It gives practical implications for starlings who thrive to get a competitive advantage by mobilizing a wide range of resources, as well as policymakers who want to attract starling entrepreneurs.

Title: Narratives of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Cambodia and Its Impact on Entrepreneur’s Decision-Making Logic Authors: Mostafa Rezayi and Pisey Vuthy Level: Master Thesis, 30 hp Background: Entrepreneurial activities are impacted by various elements in an entrepreneurship ecosystem (EE). The interplay of such factors produces narratives that display the condition of EEs. Moreover, ecosystem narratives (EN) have significant impacts on the advancement of EEs and can determine entrepreneurs' decisions in establishing and expanding new ventures. Entrepreneurs in environments with fast and continual changes use either effectual or casual logic to make decisions based on various factors such as uncertainty, culture, and resource availability. The impact of EN on the decision-making logic of entrepreneurs has been investigated in supportive and developed EEs, such research, however, has not been undertaken in less developed EEs. Considering that EEs operate differently due to the differences in their elements, this study aims to identify ENs and investigate their impacts on entrepreneurs’ decision-making logic in Cambodian EE, which is less developed than the regional and global competitors. Research questions: What are the narratives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cambodia? How do narratives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem hinder or encourage effectuation and causation in Cambodian entrepreneurs? Purpose: This study aims to (1) identify the narratives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cambodia and (2) explain how the narratives affect entrepreneurs’ decision-making logic, whether it leads to effectuation or causation.Theoretical framework: Articles used for this thesis were meticulously chosen, focusing on reliable sources and quality content that cover the theoretical background of EE, EN, and effectuation and causation. This chapter included theories and findings on EEs and their main elements, which formed the basis of the interview guide and themes used to analyze the collected data. Further, information about the causes and effects of narratives in EEs was provided. Lastly, the concepts of causation and effectuation were discussed following the elements in the EE. Method: This study adopted the interpretive approach to creating new, richer understandings and interpretations of issues related to the impacts of narratives on the decision-making logic of entrepreneurs. The Cambodian EE is studied as a case to obtain detailed data and answer the research questions. A qualitative method was implemented to conduct ENs, and adequate data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 key actors in the EE. The gathered data were analyzed through a thematic narrative analysis method. Lastly, this paper followed an abductive reasoning approach. Findings: The common narratives within the Cambodian EE were identified through 12 semi-structured interviews with Cambodian entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and business incubators. The identified narratives illuminated that Cambodian entrepreneurs rely more on the effectual logic than the casual one to establish and expand their firms. This is due to narratives about, for instance, poor developed physical infrastructure, lack of essential resources, low social and moral support, and underdeveloped training and education system. Originality/Value: This is the first research investigating the impact of common narratives in a nascent and underdeveloped EE on entrepreneurs’ decision-making logic. Keywords: Entrepreneurial ecosystem, Ecosystem narratives, Decision-making logic, Effectuation, Causation.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6831.pdf: 1954754 bytes, checksum: eede2cf4da25c4f99b932a80fa9dde89 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-20 / This paper presents a model which aims to stimulate the creation of academic spin-offs by Brazilian Scientific and Technological Institutions (STI), based on experiences of the University of Georgia, University of California, Polytechnic University of Valencia and University of Porto - institutions with high rates of business creation and environment articulate entrepreneur. This model consists of a set of actions or activities that aim to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The research that led to the model took place in six stages: Characterization of North American Universities (Phase I); Ecosystem Analysis Entrepreneurs (Phase II); Research (Phase III); Development Model to Business Creation (Stage IV); Model Validation by Expert Panel (Stage V) and Settings (Stage VI). The first version of the model was based on the Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project, stimulus bill entrepreneurship, developed by Daniel Isenberg. The project unfolded in a model that shows that an environment to encourage entrepreneurship is not made up of only one element, but by a group of structures that working together strengthen this ecosystem. The initial model constructed by this research we used the six elements specified by Isenberg, namely: policies, financial resources, culture, supporting institutions, human capital and markets. The first version of the created model was then validated by the Expert Panel for Technical. The second version of the model, now validated - Model for Spin-offs Creation of Academic Based on Ecosystem Entrepreneurs - consists of three basic elements: the institutional arrangements, policies and entrepreneurial culture. The institutional arrangements are formed by agencies that facilitate technology development, the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), the Center for Entrepreneurship (CE), the Business School (BS), the Incubators and Science Parks (I / SP), the Junior Enterprise (EJ) and Entrepreneurs Network (RE). In addition to the institutional arrangements, the model is composed of other permeable layers, which are the policies that regulate the actions in this ecosystem and the entrepreneurial culture that disseminates the concept within the institution. Permeable layers are justified because they represent a border that information, knowledge and financial resources circulate between these elements that make up the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the external environment. And in that ecosystem also move new ventures. The model provides guidance in three of STI ripening stages: initial, intermediate and mature. The first STI fits into one of these stages and then uses the appropriate guidance to its stage. / Este trabalho apresenta um modelo que visa estimular a criação de spin-offs acadêmicas por Instituições Científicas e Tecnológicas (ICTs) brasileiras, fundamentado em experiências das Universidades da Geórgia, da Califórnia, Politécnica de Valência e do Porto - instituições com altas taxas de criação desse tipo de empresa e com ambiente empreendedor bem articulado. Este modelo é constituído por um conjunto de ações ou atividades que objetivam fortalecer o ecossistema empreendedor. A pesquisa que deu origem ao modelo ocorreu em seis etapas: Caracterização das Universidades Norte-Americanas (Etapa I); Análise de Ecossistemas Empreendedores (Etapa II); Pesquisa de Campo (Etapa III); Desenvolvimento do Modelo de Estímulo à Criação de Empresas (Etapa IV); Validação do Modelo por Painel de Especialistas (Etapa V) e Ajustes/Redefinição do Modelo (Etapa VI). A primeira versão do modelo baseouse no Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project, projeto de estímulo ao empreendedorismo, desenvolvido por Daniel Isenberg. O projeto desdobrou-se em um modelo que revela que um ambiente para fomentar o empreendedorismo não é formado por apenas um elemento, mas por um grupo de estruturas que trabalhando em conjunto fortalecem esse ecossistema. O modelo inicial construído por essa pesquisa utilizou-se dos seis elementos especificados por Isenberg, que são: políticas, recursos financeiros, cultura, instituições de apoio, capital humano e mercados. A primeira versão do modelo criado foi então validado pela Técnica de Painel de Especialistas. A segunda versão do modelo, agora validado - Modelo de Estímulo para a Criação de Spin-offs Acadêmicas Baseado em Ecossistemas Empreendedores - é composto por três elementos-base: os arranjos institucionais, as políticas e a cultura empreendedora. Os arranjos institucionais são formados por órgãos que facilitam o desenvolvimento tecnológico, o Escritório de Transferência de Tecnologia (ETT), o Centro de Empreendedorismo (CE), a Escola de Negócios (EN), as Incubadoras e Parques Tecnológicos (I/P), as Empresas Juniores (EJ) e a Rede de Empreendedores (RE). Além dos arranjos institucionais, o modelo é composto por outras camadas permeáveis, que são as políticas, que normatizam as ações nesse ecossistema e a cultura empreendedora que dissemina o conceito dentro da instituição. As camadas permeáveis justificam-se porque representam um contorno em que informações, conhecimentos e recursos financeiros circulam entre esses elementos que compõem o ecossistema empreendedor e o ambiente externo. E nesse ecossistema também movem-se novos empreendimentos. O modelo oferece orientações em três estágios de amadurecimento da ICT: inicial, intermediário e maduro. A ICT primeiro se encaixa em um desses estágios e em seguida utiliza as orientações adequadas à sua fase.

Den här studien undersöker om intressenter som verkar i det svenska ekosystemet för entreprenörskap upplever att det finns ett behov av insatser för att stötta sociala organisationers internationalisering – och om sa är fallet, vilket stöd som ska implementeras för att skapa maximalt värde. Nio semistrukturerade intervjuer med intressenter som representerar akademiska institutioner, myndigheter och stödorganisationer genomfördes. Resultaten visar att majoriteten av sociala entreprenörer som idag verkar i Sverige inte vill skala internationellt. Det framkommer också att de som skalar har ett tydligt tekniskt fokus och i första hand söker sig till övriga länder i Norden. Intressenterna upplevde vidare att det fanns ett behov av stödinsatser relaterat till internationalisering, i huvudsak kopplat till att stärka affärsmässigheten bland organisationerna. I diskussionen används en modell för skalbarhet samt den svenska regeringens strategi för sociala organisationer för att identifiera potentiella överlapp samt för att placera resultatet i en teoretisk kontext. Da fältet innefattar organisationer som verkar inom ett brett spektrum inkluderar rekommendationer för framtida forskning att identifiera stödinsatser som riktar sig mot mer nischade delar inom socialt entreprenörskap, samt att utvärdera hur offentliga organisationer kan bidra till att skapa ökad tillväxt. / This study is investigating if stakeholders in the Swedish ecosystem of entrepreneurship perceive that there is a need for initiatives supporting social organizations’ internationalization and if so – what support should be implemented to provide maximum value. Nine semi-structured interviews with stakeholders representing academic institutions, public agencies and support organizations were conducted. The result shows that the majority of social entrepreneurs currently operating in Sweden are not looking into scaling internationally and those who do often have a clear technology focus and target the Nordic countries. The stakeholders perceived that there was a need for support initiatives related to internationalization, mainly with regards to strengthening business-mindedness. In the final discussion, the results are mapped into a scalability framework and the strategy for social organizations developed by the Swedish government, to identify potential overlaps and place the findings in a theoretical context. As the field entails a wide variety of organizations, suggestions for future research includes identifying support initiatives targeting niches within social entrepreneurship, and assessing how public organizations can support further growth.

Cette thèse s’inscrit au croisement de l’entrepreneuriat et du management stratégique. Elle contribue à l’émergence d’un nouveau courant qui s’inspire de l’approche écosystémique et qui vise à mieux comprendre le rôle du contexte sur les dynamiques entrepreneuriales. Son objectif est plus précisément une meilleure compréhension des stratégies des incubateurs dans l'écosystème entrepreneurial. Cette recherche s'intéresse également à la relation entre ces stratégies et la performance des incubateurs. La thèse sur travaux s’articule autour de quatre articles et s’appuie sur une méthodologie mixte séquentielle combinant des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives. Une étude qualitative a été menée auprès de 48 acteurs de l’écosystème de l’accompagnement entrepreneurial du Sud de la France. Cette recherche a été prolongée par une enquête quantitative conduite au niveau national en récoltant 156 questionnaires auprès de directeurs d’incubateurs. La contribution conceptuelle majeure repose sur une théorisation de l’écosystème entrepreneurial à partir de l’approche multi-niveaux et de la théorie du capital social. De plus, elle offre une vision holistique des stratégies des incubateurs en privilégiant une approche en termes de co-opétition. Enfin, elle permet de tester le lien entre l’écosystème, la stratégie et la performance. Nos résultats montrent des effets positifs de la stratégie de co-opétition sur la performance. La mise en œuvre de cette stratégie apparaît comme l’une des conditions pour construire un écosystème entrepreneurial durable. Des implications et recommandations sont formulées et aboutissent notamment à l’élaboration d’un plan d’action stratégique pour les acteurs de l’écosystème entrepreneurial. / This thesis is at the intersection of entrepreneurship and strategic management. It contributes to the emergence of a new theoretical steam inspired by the ecosystem approach and which aims to better understand the role of the context on the entrepreneurial dynamics. Its objective is more precisely a better understanding of incubator strategies in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This research also addresses the relationship between these strategies and the incubators performance. The thesis by publication is structured around four articles and is based on a mixed sequential methodology combining qualitative and quantitative methods. A qualitative study was carried out among 48 actors in the entrepreneurial support ecosystem in the South of France. This research was extended by a quantitative survey conducted at the national level, collecting 156 questionnaires from incubator managers. The major conceptual contribution carries on a theorization of the entrepreneurial ecosystem based on multilevel approach and social capital theory. In addition, it provides a holistic view of incubator strategies by focusing on a co-opetition approach. Finally, it allows to test the link between the ecosystem, the strategy and the performance. Our results show positive effects of the co-opetition strategy on performance. Implementation of this strategy appears to be one of the conditions for building a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. Implications and recommendations are formulated, leading in particular to the elaboration of a strategic action plan for the actors of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Recognizing the importance of innovation, we see that entrepreneurship and its supporting ecosystem contributes to increased prosperity in society. We also understand that the entrepreneurial phenomenon increases in efficiency through internationalization. Within the international context, knowledge transfer can be complex and requires people of multicultural background for successful interpretation. Demanding abilities to code and decode the transferred knowledge and integrate it into practices, interactions and learning for successfully creating new knowledge as a result. Our purpose for this research was to emphasize and give clarity of the process from initiatives to internationalization to successfully transferring knowledge. Being master students in an entrepreneurial program and working with related projects in our worklife, we were accustomed to- and possessed necessary background information for the topic. This gave us abilities to contact and form interviews for various science and technology parks (STP). We were motivated to collect data through a qualitative study, interviewing STPs with practical insight measuring selected theories presented in our literature review. Our findings correlate the selected theories, and give impressions that networking platforms provided by government, universities and international organizations contribute significantly in connecting STPs to international players. We also record that the government’s position is crucial in providing infrastructure and financial support to STPs. Further the challenge of knowledge transfer is positively related to complementary interest and trust, which is better resolved through awareness of multicultural networks. Further research can be recommended to investigate the objectives of institutions in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, between and in relation to the tenants. For direct understanding of international activities, we would also like to propose a research measuring science and technology parks’ engagement for internationalization and the financial results of tenants within the same time period.

The aim of this thesis paper is to analyse the support of incubator and accelerator programs inthe German entrepreneurial ecosystem with the impact of COVID-19. Incubator and accelerator programs have been established across multiple innovation hubs worldwide over the last decade. They have become a substantial support system for entrepreneurship providing help for young companies to innovate. The benefits offered usually include access to capital, network, mentorship and office space in exchange for equity or to simply foster innovation. With a lot of uncertainties deriving from the current pandemic, entrepreneurship has an increasingly relevant role to ensure a flourishing economy in the future. As the world is adapting to new circumstances, incubators and accelerators need to reevaluate their support to startups as well. The literature review consists of relevant literature by elaborating on the existing entrepreneurial ecosystem theories. It further discusses incubators and accelerators and the German entrepreneurial market before introducing the theoretical framework for the paper. As part of the research, this thesis uses a collective case study method by conducting interviews with startup founders and employees of incubator and accelerator programs in Germany. The qualitative data collection will undergo a deductive reasoning approach to analyse the research phenomenon and to contribute to the field of entrepreneurship. After introducing each company from the collective case study, the empirical findings systematically lay out the data from the interviews by separating the data into a section for incubators and accelerators and a section for startups. The data highlights relevant changes regarding the support of the programs with and without the impact of COVID-19. The discussion chapter points out the findings by comparing the data with the literature and the theoretical framework. The findings are broken down into subsections that point out the importance of the support programs as well as the proposed changes in the offerings. Concluded, changes can be made in the area of mentorships and coachings as there is a need for more individuality. Also regular feedback cycles, a higher capital support and the change to a hybrid model with a remote and on-site structure as well as the use of software to stay connected are possibilities for accelerators and incubators to help the startups. / Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera stödet av inkubator och accelerationsprogram i det tyska enterepenörella ekosystemet och hur det påverkats av COVID-19. Inkubator och acceleratorprogrammen har etablerats under olika innovationscenter över hela världen det senaste decenniet. De har blivit ett betydande stödsystem för entrepenörskap som ska ge stöttning åt nystartade företag för att hjälpa dom bli innovativa. Förmånerna är tillgång till kapital, nätverk, mentorsskap och lokaler, detta sker i utbyte mot delägarskap eller att bidra till att främja innovation. Med osäkerheten orsakat av den nuvarande pandemin, har entrepenörskap en mycket viktig roll för att säkerställa en uppåtgående ekonomi i framtiden. Då världen anpassar sig till nya omständigheter, behöver inkubationer och accelerationer se över stödet till startup företag. Litteraturöversikten innehåller relevant litteratur som utarbetarde redan existerande teorier inom det entrepenörella ekosystemet. Vidare diskuteras inkubatorer och accelerationer och den tyska entrepönerella marknaden, följt av introduktionen av det teoretiska ramverket för uppsatsen. Som en del av forskningen används en kollektivtfallstudie metod där det genomförts intervjuer med start up grundare och anställda på inkubator och accelerator program i Tyskland. Den kvalitativa inhämtningen av data genomgår ett slutligt resonemang för att analysera forskningsfenomenet och bidra till forskningsområdet entrepenörskap. Efter att ha introducerat varje företag för den utvalda fallstudien, visas datasystematisk med de empiriska resultaten från intervjuerna. Detta görs igenom att separera data i två sektioner. En för inkubatorer och accelationer, och en sektion för start ups. Uppgifterna belyser relevanta förändringar när det gäller stödet till programmen med och utan inverkan av COVID-19. I diskussionskapitlet pekas resultaten ut genom att uppgifterna jämförs medlitteraturen och den teoretiska ramen. Resultaten delas upp i under avsnitt som pekar ut stödprogrammens betydelse samt de föreslagna förändringarna i utbudet. Slutsatsen är att förändringar kan göras inom området mentorskap och coachning eftersom det finns ett behov av mer individualitet. Regelbundna feedbackcykler, ett högre kapitalstöd och en övergång tillen hybridmodell med en struktur på distans och på plats samt användning av programvara föratt hålla kontakten är möjligheter för acceleratorer och inkubatorer att hjälpa nystartade företag.

Background and purpose - Digitisation is connecting various business actors to create interconnected ecosystems through digital platforms. Meanwhile entrepreneurial ecosystems are offering various benefits for start-ups e.g. through support organisations that offer services for them. Currently, these start-up support organisations face the challenge of leveraging digital services to create value for their member start-ups. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the digital services offered in start-up support organisations create value for start-ups. Approach - From a theoretical perspective, the sociology of value and service dominant logic concepts such as value co-creation and service ecosystems are considered. Qualitative methods were used to conduct a pre-study and an in-depth case study with a start-up hub in Stockholm's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Data was collected using 18 semi-structured interviews with start-ups and other actors in the ecosystem and participant observations of 17 events. Findings - Needs and challenges for start-ups were identified and mapped against the digital services used by the start-ups. These services facilitate interaction between various actors in the start-up hub. Seven interconnected value types for the start-ups were identified emerging from the use of digital and non-digital services in the start-up hub. Moreover, many of the digital services are not provided by the start-up hub alone but in collaboration with other actors, connecting the start-up hub to other actors in the start-up ecosystem. Research limitations and implications - The findings contribute to the understanding of how start-up support organisations leverage digital services to support their member start-ups. The connection of digital service usage to the creation of various value types provides a theoretical concept to research about service ecosystem. As the study has been conducted with a limited number of respondents and events in Stockholm, further research in other ecosystems and using different methods is suggested to ensure generalisability of the findings of this study. Practical implications - A number of practical suggestions for start-up support organisations can be derived from the findings, including that start-up support organisations can benefit from establishing and moderating a digital community, involving several actors from the ecosystem and continuously adapting digital services to the changing environment and needs of start-ups. Originality - To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study to investigate digital services in entrepreneurial ecosystems from the perspective of value in service ecosystems. / Bakgrund och syfte - Digitalisering förbinder olika affärsaktörer för att skapa sammankopplade ekosystem genom digitala plattformar. Samtidigt erbjuder start-up ekosystem olika fördelar för start-ups, till exempel genom stödorganisationer som erbjuder tjänster för start-ups. För tillfället möter dessa start-up stödorganisationer utmaningen att utnyttja digitala tjänster för att skapa värde för sina medlems start-ups. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur de digitala tjänster som erbjuds av stödorganisationerna skapar värde för start-ups. Tillvägagångssätt - Från ett teoretiskt perspektiv beaktas sociologin av värde och service dominerande logik begrepp som värde medskapande och serviceekosystem. Kvalitativa metoder användes för att genomföra en förstudie och en fördjupad fallstudie med ett start-up hub i Stockholms entreprenörsekosystem. Data samlades in med 18 halvstrukturerade intervjuer med start-ups och andra aktörer i ekosystemet och deltagarobservationer av 17 evenemang. Fynd - Behov och utmaningar för start-ups identifierades och mappades mot de digitala tjänster som start-ups använde. Dessa tjänster underlättar interaktion mellan olika aktörer i start-up hubben. Sju sammankopplade värdetyper för start-ups identifierades som en följd av användningen av digitala och icke-digitala tjänster i start-up hubben. Dessutom är många av de digitala tjänsterna inte tillhandahållen av start-uperna ensam men i samarbete med andra aktörer, som kopplar ihop start-up hubben till andra aktörer i start-up ekosystemet. Forskningsbegränsningar och konsekvenser - Fynden bidrar till att förstå hur start-up stödorganisationer utnyttjar digitala tjänster för att stöda sina medlemmar. Anslutningen av digital serviceanvändning till skapandet av olika värdetyper ger ett teoretiskt koncept för att undersöka serviceekosystemet. Eftersom studien har genomförts med ett begränsat antal respondenter och evenemang i Stockholm, föreslås ytterligare forskning i andra ekosystem och användande av olika metoder för att säkerställa generaliserbarhet av resultaten i denna studie. Praktiska konsekvenser - Ett antal praktiska förslag till start-up stödorganisationer kan härledas från resultaten, bland annat att de start-up stödorganisationerna kan dra nytta av att etablera och moderera ett digitalt samhälle, involvera flera aktörer från ekosystemet och kontinuerligt anpassa digitala tjänster till förändringen av miljön och behovet av start-ups. Originalitet – Till bästa kunskapen av författarna, är detta den första studien för att undersöka digitala tjänster i entreprenörsekosystem från perspektivet av värdet i service ekosystemen.

Background: A crisis can be defined as a circumstance or event that threatens a company's performance and indicates the need to take action within the company to prevent potential losses. Companies and industries are affected by crises in different ways, and the nature of the crisis can also affect performance. The COVID-19 crisis is considered a crisis that has had a major negative impact on Swedish companies. Aim: To study how small family businesses have responded to the COVID-19 crisis and its potential effects, and how they have adapted to structural changes resulting from these effects. Method: A qualitative research method has been applied as the focus is on interpretations provided by the respondents through semi-structured interviews. This study is therefore based on a phenomenological approach where the focus is on developing insights into crisis management in small family businesses, with a particular focus on the restaurant industry. Theoretical perspectives: The theoretical framework is primarily built around the themes of family businesses and strategies. In addition, relevant areas and concepts within these themes are also presented, as they are of great importance to the study and the topic of crisis management. Contrubution: The study provides a broader understanding of crisis management in family businesses and the types of strategies adopted by business leaders. This study also highlights the effects that crises have on the Swedish business market and how companies need to adapt their strategies to avoid losses. The study can thus provide organizations with knowledge and insights on how to work with crisis management and strategic planning in the long term. Results and conclusion: This study shows that family-owned restaurants have had to use creativity and the ability to adapt to new conditions. This has thus been crucial during the COVID-19 crisis for the company's flexibility. Management, culture, entrepreneurial ecosystems, replacement planning and crisis management have all been addressed through flexibility as strategies have struggled. Suggestions for further research: Since this study examined Swedish businesses, it would be possible to investigate whether there are any differences in non-Swedish companies and how these work with crisis management. Examining customer perspectives can also contribute with knowledge to entrepreneurs and create an understanding of the customer's actions and needs. It would also be possible to compare the different categories of themes that emerged in this study with larger companies to meet the difference between the types of business. / Bakgrund: En kris kan definieras som en omständighet eller händelse som hotar ett företags prestation och indikerar behovet av att vidta åtgärder inom företaget för att förhindra potentiella förluster. Företag och branscher påverkas av kriser på olika sätt, och krisens karaktär kan också påverka resultatet. Covid-19 krisen anses vara en kris som haft en stor negativ inverkan på svenska företag. Syfte: Denna studie undersöker hur mindre familjeföretag hanterat covid-19 krisen och dess potentiella effekter, samt hur företagen har anpassat sig till strukturella förändringar som skett till följd av dessa effekter. Metod: En kvalitativ forskningsmetod har tillämpats då fokus ligger på tolkningar som respondenterna bidrar med via semistrukturerade intervjuer. Denna undersökning utgår därav från en fenomenologisk ansats där fokuset ligger på att utveckla insikter om krishantering inom mindre familjeföretag, med särskild inriktning i restaurangbranschen.  Teoretisk referensram: Den teoretiska referensramen är i första hand uppbyggd kring teman som familjeföretag och strategier. Dessutom redogörs även för relevanta områden och begrepp inom dessa teman, då dessa är av stor vikt för studien och ämnet krishantering. Bidrag: Studien skapar en bredare förståelse för krishantering inom familjeföretag och vilka typer av strategier som anammas av företagsledare. Denna studie belyser även de effekter som kriser har på den svenska företagsmarknaden och hur företag behöver kunna anpassa sina strategier för att undvika förluster. Undersökningen kan därmed förse organisationer med kunskaper och insikter i hur man kan arbeta med krishantering och strategisk planering långsiktigt. Resultat och slutsats: Denna studie visar att familjeägda restauranger har behövt använda kreativitet och förmågan att anpassa sig till nya förhållanden. Detta har därav varit avgörande under covid-19 krisen för företagets flexibilitet. Management, kultur, entreprenöriella ekosystem, ersättningsplanering och krishantering har alla behandlats genom flexibilitet när strategier bekämpat. Förslag på vidare forskning: Då denna studie varit inriktad på svenska verksamheter, finns en möjlighet att undersöka ämnet vidare, genom att rikta sig till icke-svenska företag och deras krishantering, och huruvida det skulle påvisas finnas någon skillnad mot de svenska företagens arbete. Att bedriva undersökningen genom ett kundperspektiv kan vara en ytterligare väg till att forska vidare i det aktuella ämnet. Det skulle även vara möjligt att jämföra de olika kategorierna av teman som framkommit i denna studie, till exempel med inriktning mot större företag för att även kunna möta skillnaden på verksamhetstyperna.