The aim of this thesis is the proposal of a framework for creation of a business plan for IT related projects. Emphasis is targeted on proposing usable framework evolved from theoretical findings and research among IT investors. First part describes the term "business plan" on theoretical level. Moreover, the first part includes the development of IT investments in start-up projects within the USA and Europe. In the second part, there is a description of the researched problematic, goal setting of the research and the development. As a closure of the research, there are recommendations and conclusions based on the outcomes. Third part relates to a new proposed framework for creation of a business plan for IT related projects, based on the outcomes from the second part. The forth part describes practical example of the proposed framework. It includes the Executive Summary and then the complete business plan for the IT start-up project, based on the new framework.

The target of Zero Waste "Valuation and business planning" for a potential investor is to explore and evaluate the identified market opportunity. Business plan concerns the foundation of food and consumer goods retail business which is aimed towards reducing consumers negative impact on the environment, supporting local jobs and sustainable farming. The thesis is based on theoretical knowledge from the publications listed in the resources which were confronted with the reality in interviews with the owners of comparable businesses. Resulting from the business planning a calculation of present value of the proposed model enterprise has been made. Value calculated using discounted cash flows had shown that cannot be unequivocally recommended to establish the company. Pessimistic scenario shows a negative net present value and realistic option shows a positive net present value. However it is necessary to understand the thesis as a model business plan for valuation of such businesses. As for example with a different form of funding or reduction of initial investment, the company may change to a version that would be recommendable to implement.

A utilização de reatores anaeróbios de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo no tratamento de águas residuárias tem tido grande aceitação dos projetistas e pesquisadores pelas vantagens que esse sistema apresenta sobre os demais (aeróbios e anaeróbios). Uma das principais limitações do processo relaciona-se com o período de partida, normalmente lento e de difícil controle. Esse trabalho apresenta os resultados de pesquisas em laboratório sobre a partida de dois reatores de manta de lodo, um deles inoculado com lodo anaeróbio imobilizado em matrizes de gel agar e o outro com lodo livre. A imobilização de microrganismos em gel surge como uma nova possibilidade de retenção da população microbiana no reator e consequentemente, esse trabalho objetiva também verificar a viabilidade do uso de lodo imobilizado em qel agar no estudo sobre fatores que afetam o desempenho de reatores com manta de lodo. Os dois reatores anaeróbios utilizados neste trabalho eram idênticos e possuiam volume de 10 L cada um. Utilizou-se substrato sintético para que se obtivesse alimento com características estáveis durante a maior parte do tempo necessário à partida dos reatores, preparados de maneira a se obter DQO de aproximadamente 2000 mg/L. Os reatores estiveram em operação durante 179 dias e foram submetidos a cargas orgânicas volumétricas que variaram de 0,47 a 12,83 KgDQO.m-3.d-1 e a cargas hidráulicas volumétricas que variaram de 0,23 a 6,0 m3.m-3.d-1. As principais análises realizadas foram DQO, alcalinidade, ácidos voláteis, pH, temperatura e altura do leito de lodo. A eficiência de remoção de DQO esteve em geral entre 70 e 80%. Em vista dos resultados obtidos, conclue-se que a utilização de lodo anaeróbio imobilizado em matrizes de gel agar pode ser útil no estudo de partida de reatores anaeróbios com manta de lodo. Sugere-se a continuidade dos estudos, utilizando-se as técnicas descritas no trabalho, na ampliação do conhecimento dos processos anaeróbios neste tipo de reator. / The use of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Reactor for wastewater treatment has been well accepted by designers and researchers due to the advantages shown over athers reactors (aerobic and anaerobic). The reactor start-up remains as one of the most important limitations of the process. It is usualy slow and is difficult to control. This thesis shows the results of a laboratory research on the start-up of two UASB reactors. One of them was seeded with anaerobic sludge immobilized in gel agar and the other with free anaerobic sludge. The immobilization of microorganisms in gel represents a new possibility of biomass retention within the reactors. Consequently this research also aims to check the viability of using immobilized sludge in gel agar in the study of factors affecting UASB reactors performance. Both the UASB reactors used in this research were exatly alike and had a volume 10 L each. Synthetic substrate was used to provide, consistent feed during the most of the start-up period. The substrate was prepared to contain about 2000 mg/L COD. The reactors were aperated for 179 days and were submitted to organic loading rates which varied from 0,47 to 12,83 KgCOD.m-3.d-1 and to hydraulic loading rates which varied from 0,23 to 6,0 m3.m-3.d-1. The main physical-chemical parameters measured were COD, alkalinity, volatite fatly acids, pH, temperature and sludge bed height. The COD removal efficiency was between 70 and 80%. This research comproved the feasibility of sludge immobilized in gel agar for UASB reactor start-up. It is suggested to continue the studies to achieve the best conditions for the use of this technique.

Bakgrund: En inkubator är ett entreprenöriellt utvecklingsprogram för nystartade företag med utgångspunkt att effektiva deras uppstartsprocess. Företag ingår i en inkubation under en tidsbestämd period där de erbjuds affärsutveckling och rådgivning. De agerar i inkubatorns kontorslokaler tillsammans med andra inkuberade företag. Sociala nätverk är en omfattande del av nystartade företags konkurrenskraft och utveckling på marknaden. Genom sociala nätverk genereras rådgivning, kompetens, kapital och affärsmöjligheter. För att nätverken ska fungera krävs det att entreprenörer interagerar och utbyter information vilket skapar en tillit. Förtroende och tillit möjliggjör för att att nätverken ska vara effektiva och givande, vilket dessutom utgör relationen mellan individerna. Inkuberade företag möter olika utmaningar genom att ingå i ett inkubatorsprogram. Nätverk och kompetens kan vara för likartad samt homogen. Dessutom kan förtroendet mellan de inkuberade företagen och inkubatorn i en flexibel kontorsyta vara komplext. Fortsättningsvis att företagens förmåga att utveckla verksamheten vidare minimeras utan inkubatorns stöd.   Problemformulering: Vilka likheter och skillnader innefattar de inkuberade företagen om inkubatorns program?   Syfte: Syftet med studien är att jämföra de inkuberade företagens förväntningar och upplevelser av en inkubator.   Metod: Uppsatsens har ett kvalitativt tillvägagångssätt och en komparativ forskningsdesign. Således en jämförande studie av de inkuberade företagens förväntningar och upplevelser av en inkubator. Kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer har använts för att samla data från respondenter. Fyra olika företag i form av Measure and Change, Världens Chans, Lumispectra samt YLDR intervjuades från samma inkubator (Företagsfabriken).   Slutsats: Samtliga inkuberade företag är överens om att inkubatorns nätverk inte är tillräckligt effektivt. Upplevelsen har inte bemött deras förväntningar på grund av brister i effektivitet, organisering samt intressanta aktörer. Förtroende för inkubatorn har påverkats negativt för samtliga företag förutom YLDR vilket grundar sig i inkubatorns verksamhetsstruktur och tillgänglighet. Samtidigt har det blivit bättre över tid. Kapitalanskaffningen har delvis besvarat de inkuberade företagens förväntningar. Framförallt det sociala och humana kapitalet. Däremot har det finansiella kapitalet inte besvarat något företags förväntningar förutom (YLDR). / Background: A business incubator is an entrepreneurial development program för start up businesses. Firms in a start up phase are a part of the program in a certain amount of time where they recieve an office space, business advice and development. Together with other incubated companies are they developing their business ideas in a flexible office structure. Furthermore are social networks a major competitive advantage for start up businesses where they can receive competence, capital and business oppertunities. Trust is a major component in order to make the social networks to function. Building trust between to firms creates a relation where they can gain different types of advantages and resources. An incubated business can encouter different types of challenges and problem within an incubator such as homogeneus competence and business networks. Also, trust issues against other incubated businesses and finally problems with being able to develope their firm further after the incubation program.    Research Question: What similarities and differences within the incubation program are the incubated businesses comprising?   Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare the incubated business actors expectations and experiences of an incubator.   Method: The paper has a qualitative research method and a comparative research design. Furthermore a comparative study of the incubated businesses expectations and experiences from an incubators (Foretagsfabriken). The data was gathered from four incubated businesses who are operating within the same incubator. The firms that participated in the study where Measure and Change, Varldens Chans, Lumispectra and YLDR.   Conclusion: The internal and external network has not met the expectations from the incubated businesses. It has not been organized or efficient with enough interesting actors for them to further develope their business. The trust between the incubator and the incubated businesses has been affected negatively except for YLDR. Furthmore, the acess to different types of capital has partially met the expectations that the start up comapnies had, epescially the social and the human capital. However, YLDR was the only company that where their expectations for financial capital was fulfilled.

The aim of this thesis is to research the value and influence of digital marketing on the competitive establishment of start-up companies. The research would further explore whether digital marketing can have a substantial effect on the growth of start-ups, enhance brand recognition, gain consumer loyalty, and strengthen customer relationships. This concept has not been previously researched and the only related study we find was the correlation between social media and innovation in start-ups, which indicates that social media has a positive effect on innovation in start-up companies.    The research used a qualitative research approach in which 5 start-up firms were interviewed using a semi-structured interview as the primary data collection method. The research also used secondary data collected through peer-reviewed articles, journals, and websites.   The study concludes that digital marketing is recognized as a creative and efficient way of obtaining, sustaining, and establishing customer relationships. Online channels and platforms, such as websites, industry-specific outlets, and forums, have been identified to be the most beneficial for start-ups. It also suggests that a fresh start-up can develop substantially through digital marketing by creating brand awareness, building trust, and building consumer awareness. However, most of the start-up companies hesitate implementing digital marketing strategies at the beginning of the company’s establishment.   Our findings will assist other start-ups to consider digital marketing for their marketing strategies. Recommendations for further studies are a related but perhaps more detailed study in Sweden and UAE, together with a study in a country other than Sweden and UAE.

This Master's thesis covers a business plan for a web project whose aim is to facilitate communication between a provider of a service known as housework and a potential client. The business plan will be used as a basis for a real project.

The thesis is associated with designing a business plan for a start-up named FairList Ltd.. The business plan is developed on the basis of the originally designed economic model which does not generate the needed profit. Attention is especially given to the analysis of the market and the identification of the specific needs of language educators and potential students who play an essential role in the success of the entire project.

Sustainability issues have been a popular and important topic on the world’s agenda the recent years, which has caused businesses to follow the policies of operating more sustainable. One of the latest introduced guidelines is the Global Goals imposed by the United Nations to be met by 2030. In light of these goals, awareness regarding sustainability issues among consumers and other stakeholders has increased, leading to that change is inevitable for businesses to start operating sustainably. The concept of sustainable business model innovation therefore becomes relevant. There is a lot of research regarding sustainable business model innovation. However, the research is heavily focusing on theoretical aspects of it, and less is given to the practical creation and implementation of sustainable business models. Further, less focus is given to start-up companies specifically. Due to the identified research gap, this study aims to answer the research question: “How can start-ups successfully create and implement sustainable business models to become an established actor on its specific market?” The purpose of this study is to create an understanding and contribute with extended knowledge of how sustainability is practiced in start-ups. More specifically, how sustainable business models are created and implemented in start-ups. A qualitative abductive approach was used to fulfill this purpose. Additionally, six semi-structured interviews were conducted with founders of start-ups and business coaches from Swedish incubators, which were structured based on the themes from the Lean Start-up Framework (LSF). This framework, along with the Triple Layered Business Model Canvas (TLBMC) showed to be of importance after the theoretical review. The key findings retrieved displayed that the LSF is suitable to describe the sustainable start-up process as well. Yet, the TLBMC needs to be integrated to fulfill the purpose of sustainability. Further, the benefit versus impact is shown to be of great importance whereas the framework’s components were modified in that sense as well in those cases needed. This study theoretically contributes to extended knowledge and additional components of the Lean Start-up framework that are advocated to be crucial to create a sustainable business model. These additional components are further of value for the existing field of research. Practically, by the extended and modified framework, it offers valuable insight for entrepreneurs with a business idea where the purpose is to offer a sustainable value proposition. Lastly, this study contributes to a social level by providing guidelines on the implementation of sustainability in the business model, leading to the encouragement to operate sustainably and towards a better environment and society.

Vid kalkylering inför en tunneldrivning finns det vissa svårigheter med att bestämma hur lång tid arbetet tar och framför allt vid uppstarten av produktionen. Det kan leda till att anbudsofferter blir felberäknade med avseende på både tiden och kostnaden. Vid en felberäkning av hur mycket tid ett projekt kan tänkas behöva kan det i längden ge högre kostnader och därmed lägre intäkter. För att förhindra sådana fallgropar är ett steg att identifiera de problem som kan uppstå under produktionen och förhindra dem. Mätningar har därför utförts under uppstarten av ett tunneldrivningsprojekt i Norsborg. Även om mätningarna utförs på ett specifikt projekt är förhoppningen att det även ska kunna användas vid andra tunneldrivningsprojekt. Många resultat och slutsatser kan också tillämpas vid andra tunneldrivningsprojekt och kanske även vid helt andra byggprojekt. Mätningarna har skett ute på projektet och har innefattat tidtagning på de olika arbetsmoment som har skett under uppstarten och inom varje cykel. En cykel omfattar alla de arbeten som sker vid sprängning av en hel stuff, det vill säga från det att borrning påbörjas inför en laddning av salva till dess att salvan sprängts av och allt berg har lastats och rensats bort från stuffen. Problem som har uppstått under tiden och anledningen till dem har även noterats. Kvantiteter på hur många borrhål som har borrats och hur långa dessa är, hur mycket sprängmedel som har använts och hur många hål som har laddats har dokumenterats för att kunna ta fram kapaciteten under de olika momenten. Uppstarten redovisas per vecka med cirkeldiagram som visar hur mycket av den totala arbetstiden som har gått åt för varje moment. Här redovisas också hur mycket stopp som har skett för respektive vecka. Diagrammen ger en bra överblick över vad som har skett under uppstarten och vilka moment som har varit mer tidskrävande än andra.   Av diagrammen vid uppstarten kan utläsas att många problem som uppstod vid uppstarten hade kunnat förhindras om det funnits bättre maskiner eller att tillgången till maskinist från leverantör hade funnits på plats redan från starten. En del av problemen hade alltså kunnat förhindras eller reduceras redan vid kalkyleringen. Av resultaten som kan avläsas kring cyklerna har många olika faktorer spelat en stor roll kring huruvida effektiviteten och kapaciteterna förbättras. Dessa resultat redovisas i diagram där helheten visas kring de cykler som uppmätts och i mer specifika diagram där varje moment behandlas var för sig. Många olika slutsatser har dragits gällande de olika faktorer som påverkar effektiviteten. Lastningen, som är det mest kritiska momentet i cykeln, har visat sig kunna effektiviseras desto längre projektet fortskridit. / Planning a tunnel project presents certain difficulties in deciding how long the job will take, particularly at the start of production. This can lead to miscalculated quotations concerning both time and cost. A miscalculation of how much time a project may need can increase costs long-term and thus lead to lower revenues. In order to avoid such pitfalls, one measure is to identify the problems that can arise during production and prevent them. Therefore, measuring’s have been made during the start-up of a tunnel project in Norsborg. Even if measuring’s have been performed on a specific project, the expectation is that they can be used at later tunnel projects as well. Many results and conclusions can also be applied to other tunnel projects, and possibly even to completely different types of construction projects. The measuring’s have taken place at the project site and have included timekeeping of the various work tasks that have taken place during start-up and each cycle. A cycle covers all work that happens when blasting a full tunnel opening; that is, from the initial drilling for a charge until the charge has burst and all the rock has been cleared and loaded from the tunnel opening. Any problems and their respective causes during this process have been recorded. The number of drill holes and their length, how much explosives that have been used and how many holes that have been primed with charges, has been documented so that capacity during the various tasks could be outlined. The start-up is recorded on a weekly circle chart showing how much of the total work time has been spent on each task. It also shows any stoppages during the week. The charts provide a good overview of the proceedings during start-up and what tasks have taken more time than others. The charts show that many of the problems that arose during start-up could have been prevented if better machinery or an operator from the contractor had been available on-site from the start. Some problems could also have been prevented or diminished as early as the project planning stage.  By the results that can be read from the cycles many factors have played a big role of the improvement of the efficiency and the capacity. These results are shown in charts where the whole cycles can be studied and in more specific charts where every task are examined individually. Many conclusions have been read regarding the different factors that affects the efficiency. The loading that is the most critical task within the cycle have been able to become more efficient the longer the project has proceeded.

Whenever someone starts a company from scratch there is a great chance he or she (the entrepreneur) looks for funding. People who fund entrepreneurs and start-­‐ups are usually venture capitalists or business angels. Whether it is one or the other these people want to invest wisely. However without last year’s report piling up at the reception of this start-­‐up another approach is necessary. This master thesis focuses on how valuation is possible without haveing financial data. The main focus the thesis is to find whitch personal attributes you should look for in a successful future entrepreneur.