Diss.--Augsburg. / Bibliogr. p. 210-222.

The diploma thesis deals with the influences that affect young people aged 18 to 24 in the establishment of start-ups. The main aim was to find out which environmental factors influence emergence of youth start-ups and how they differ in Europe, China and the US over time. The thesis describes three models that explain the entrepreneurial intentions and that serve better understanding of human behavior in setting up businesses. Further the thesis includes a description of the individual and environmental factors that are based on current studies. Due to the title of thesis only the impact of environmental factors was tested. The analysis was conducted on a public data of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.

Using data from the Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS), this thesis explores the effects that innovation activities has on the survival of new firms. The KFS follows 4,928 American start-ups from 2004 to 2011. A probit model is used to examine the relationships that may exist between a number of different variables relating to innovation and survival. The results indicate that firms that invest in research and development (R&D) and machinery and equipment persistently are more likely to survive than those that do not, or those that only invest once in these types of innovative business activities. Also, with regards to intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks and patents), firms that hold these types of intellectual property have a better chance of survival than those that do not hold any intellectual property.

This diploma thesis is dedicated to marketing of start-ups and the most frequent mistakes they make in this field. The goal of this thesis is to propose recommendations for start-up founders which could help them avoid mistakes while building their business. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part defines the concept of start-ups, explores their history and introduces the main issues start-ups have to deal with in the field of marketing. The second part contains interviews with start-up founders, employers and investors. The third part identifies the main problematic areas of start-ups' marketing and introduces recommendations and best practices for start-up founders, which is supposed to increase their chances to build a successful company.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter, and contribute towards increasing the effectiveness of such campaigns, as most campaigns are unsuccessful. The theoretical part will focus on defining crowdfunding as the new phenomena of capital distribution and compared with other forms of financing new ideas. The empirical part focuses on a paired comparison analysis of campaigns from two various locations and three industries in total. Factores affecting the successfulness are analyzed and a pattern which would help towards solving the initial problem is looked for. The aim of the thesis was fulfilled by giving recommendations which have an impact on the success rate.

Sebastián Álvarez Licenciado en Relaciones Internacionales y Ciencias Sociales con énfasis en Comercio Internacional. Actualmente, Analista de Inversiones para Colombia, Perú y Ecuador de la Embajada del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte en Colombia. / Krystel Castillo Licenciada en Relaciones Internacionales, con amplia experiencia en pequeñas y medianas empresas. Actualmente, Analista de Inversiones para México y Colombia, de la Embajada del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte en México / El propósito principal del foro es explicar la oferta comercial del Reino Unido para empresas y start-ups latinoamericanas. Se abordará las ventajas estratégicas que convierten al Reino Unido en un destino idóneo para start-ups que estén buscando tener una presencia internacional. De igual forma, se abarcarán los servicios que el Departamento de Comercio Internacional puede proporcionar a las empresas peruanas que deseen internacionalizarse y forjar lazos comerciales robustos con el Reino Unido.

This study explores the accessibility of prime retail space to start-up retailers from the landlord’s perspective. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which prime space is accessible to start-ups retailers. The study also aims to identify the factors influencing start-up access to prime space, the strategies used by start-ups to access prime space and the criteria by which landlords evaluate these start-ups. The study followed an inductive, qualitative approach. Ten in-depth interviews with leasing decision makers were conducted. The interviews were summarised and the data units therein categorised. The categories were then analysed and testable propositions were developed from these emergent categories. By applying analytic induction in light of the theory base, a set of explanatory models were derived. The study finds that prime retail space is not easily accessible by start-ups. However, it also provides a deeper understanding of the context in the form of a set of explanatory models for the phenomena observed. Armed with this understanding, start-ups can modify their approach and vastly improve their access to prime space. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This diploma thesis deals with the impact of venture capital financing on the performance of selected companies. In the theoretical portion of this paper, an analysis of foreign studies is performed. There are also several reasons discussed for government support and the impact of venture capital on the macroeconomic level. In the practical part of diploma thesis, the performance of Czech VC-backed firms is calculated. Then the impact of venture capital on Czech and foreign companies is commented on. In the following portion of this diploma thesis, multiple linear regression is made in order to discover which factors have the most significant impact on the performance of the selected Czech companies. In the closing segment, the results and findings are discussed as well as the recommendations for policy-makers that should be made.

The issue of the division of equity is one that founders of joint ventures inevitably face during the start-up phase of business development. Whilst this is an issue of great importance in that it shapes the capital structure of the business (Roberts and Zender, 2008) and impacts on the future productivity of founder members (Holstrom, 1982), it is an area that has received little systematic attention in academic literature. Hellman and Wasserman (2011) conducted a large scale study of equity splits in start-up’s and noted that the three factors of (1) the value of the idea, (2) past entrepreneurial experience and (3) capital contribution played a significant role in determining the division of equity. This study employs a qualitative research methodology to investigate the process of equity negotiation with the aim of identifying further factors that may guide decisions in equity negotiation. The key findings of the research are that the dynamics of the interpersonal relationships that exist between founder members appear to influence equity negotiations, in that preserving goodwill in these relationships was a factor that motivated founder members to lean towards equal equity splits. The two phenomena that are associated with a need to preserve goodwill within the relationship are the existence of a relationship prior to entering into business, and the business venture being based on a shared idea.Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Prior to 1998 charter schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia were non-existent. Students who wanted to be educated in ways alternative to public education would need to seek out private schools or homeschooling. The Patrick Henry School of Arts and Sciences (PHSSA), a year round elementary charter school in the City of Richmond, is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the events and actions that led to the establishment and operation of PHSSA, as a public charter school. The main research question for this study is, what has occurred and had to be overcome in order to enable the first elementary public charter school in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be approved and to continue as a charter, renewed twice for a total existence of 10 years? This research provides recommendations for those seeking to implement and continue the renewal of a charter school where the authorizer is a local school board. Participants interviewed were representatives of the community--parents and community leaders--who were involved in the startup of Patrick Henry at various stages of its existence. A systematic method of document review and structured interviews of key informants was conducted. Analysis revealed the problems and successes of this elementary charter school. Outcomes from the interviews should foster understanding of the creation and continued renewal of charter schools in Virginia. The study may provide counsel for future public charter school endeavors in the Commonwealth. / Doctor of Education / Public charter schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia began with the authorization of public charters in 1998. As written in the Code of Virginia (§ 22.1-212.5): Public charter schools in Virginia are nonsectarian, nonreligious, or non-home-based alternative schools located within a public school division. The Patrick Henry School of Arts and Sciences (PHSSA), a year-round elementary charter school in the city of Richmond, is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the events and actions that led to the establishment and operation of PHSSA. This study provides recommendations for those seeking to implement and continue the renewal of a charter school. Participants interviewed were representatives of the community--parents and community leaders--who were involved in the startup of PHSSA. Outcomes from the interviews should provide understanding of the creation and continued renewal of charter schools in Virginia. It also may provide guidance for future public charter school endeavors in the Commonwealth. .