Atualmente as organizações enfrentam grandes desafios como por exemplo a necessidade de reduzir o ciclo de vida de produtos e serviços, enfrentar exigências de qualidade superiores, menores tempo de desenvolvimento e menores custos de produção, devendo buscar a excelência produtiva mas, contraditoriamente também sendo cobradas pelo desenvolvimento de inovações e pela busca de maior agilidade. Neste cenário verifica-se o aumento na importância das startups, organizações que exploram novas oportunidades no mercado e que apresentam grande potencial para geração de inovações radicais. Apesar do aumento da sua relevância, ainda existem poucos modelos elaborados e validados, capazes de auxiliar estas organizações em seu processo inicial de estruturação de operação. Como consequência, atualmente as startups podem adotar técnicas inadequadas à sua realidade, reconhecidamente burocráticas, inflexíveis e pouco inovadoras. Buscando reduzir esta lacuna de conhecimento este estudo propõe um Framework Cíclico que visa contribuir com as startups em seu processo de geração e refinamento de conceitos e na estruturação inicial da sua operação, tendo como objetivo facilitar o atingimento do sucesso. Para o seu desenvolvimento inicialmente foi realizada ampla revisão bibliográfica, resultando numa primeira versão do Framework. Esta versão foi utilizada para a realização de dois estudos de caso que, em conjunto com a qualificação, resultou em alterações no seu layout porém manteve suas características essenciais. Uma segunda versão do Framework Cíclico foi avaliada em um painel que contou com a participação de 8 especialistas em startups, profissionais conceituados cujas observações foram analisadas utilizando de Análise Qualitativa, resultando numa mudança de etapa no Framework, incorporando o Canvas do Value Proposition Design e algumas contribuições no detalhamento das etapas. Com a terceira versão do Framework estruturada foi realizada uma survey que contou com a participação de 88 empreendedores de startups consideradas de sucesso. Para isto, de forma a estabelecer a amostra da pesquisa foram selecionadas startups com existência de mais de um ano, já aceleradas ou em processo de aceleração em aceleradoras brasileiras. Os resultados obtidos foram trabalhados com aplicação de Análise Qualitativa e Análise Fatorial e, como resultados, ocorreu a mudança de posicionamento de uma etapa, além da contribuições que destacam alguns pontos de atenção no desenvolvimento das diferentes etapas. Assim, foi obtida a versão final do Framework Cíclico, correspondendo ao objetivo proposto para este estudo, auxiliar na geração e refinamento de conceitos e estruturação da operação inicial de negócios inovadores. / Currently organizations face major challenges such as the need to reduce product and service life cycles, to obtain higher quality standards and lower production costs, aiming to obtain excellence in production but, contradictorily, aiming to develop significant innovations and to foster more agility. In this scenario it is possible to observe the growing importance of startups, emerging companies that explore new market opportunities and have big potential for the generation of radical innovations. Despite the increase of their relevance, until now there are few structured and validated models, capable of contributing with these organizations in their initial phases. As a consequence, currently startups can only adopt techniques that are inadequate to their reality since they are bureaucratic, inflexible and little innovative. Aiming to reduce this gap of knowledge, this research proposes a Cyclic Framework that aims to contribute with the startups in their process of generation and refinement of concepts and in the initial structuration of its operation, in order to facilitate the achievement of success. For the development of the first version an extensive literature review was performed. This version of the Framework was applied in two case studies that, in conjunction with the qualification, resulted in changes in the layout of the Framework but maintained its essencial characteristics. This second version of the Cyclic Framework was evaluated in a panel that counted with the participation of 8 specialists in startups, recognized professionals whose observations have been analyzed with the application of qualitative analysis. As a result a stage changed in Framework, including Canvas of Value Proposition Design and some other contributions were incorporated into the detailed steps of the Framework. Considering this third version of the Framework structured and validated, a final survey was performed and 88 entrepreneurs of startups participated. The sample for this research was selected at startups with existence of more than one year, that are already accelerated or in acceleration process at Brazilian accelerators. The obtained results were analyzed with the application of Qualitative Analysis and quantitative Factor Analysis and, as results, there was a change in the position of a step and the improvement of points of attention in the development of different steps. As a result the final version of the Cyclic Framework was developed and the main objective of this study was obtained, the development of a tool to contribute in the generation and improvement of concepts and structuring in the initial operation of innovative businesses.

Este trabalho baseia-se na minha experiência como um dos fundadores da Oxiot, startup que monitora consumo de oxigênio medicinal por paciente via Internet das Coisas. O problema de pesquisa é \"Como desenvolvemos uma startup de hardware em saúde no Brasil do hackathon ao primeiro cliente\", que se desdobra em três perguntas sobre a literatura de startups de hardware, a trajetória da Oxiot e suas contribuições. Este estudo é de natureza longitudinal e compreende de setembro de 2015 a agosto de 2017. O método utilizado foi o de Pesquisa-Ação, estruturado em 4 Ciclos, compostos por \"Planejar\", \"Agir & Observar\" e \"Refletir\". Os procedimentos de pesquisase baseiam em ProcessStudies. Os dados soft e hard coletadossão dispostos em Narrativa Estratégia e Visual Mapping, e analisados quantitativa e qualitativamente. Buscou-se neutralizar a tendência de parcialidade do pesquisador pela ponderação comterceiros. Foi realizada pesquisa bibliográfica na Web of Science, Google Acadêmico e Google. Foram triadas 247 obras, das quais, 8 selecionadas, às quais duas adicionadas por indicação ao autor. Das 10 totais analisadas, 3 classificam-se como Modelos de desenvolvimento de startup; 4, como Modelos de desenvolvimento de Modelos de Negócio; e 3, como Modelos de Referências para startups de hardware. Concluiu-se não haver um Modelo específico parastartup dehardware, apesar de haver conceitos aplicáveisna literatura geral. A formatação do produto e do Modelo de negócios foi estimulada por 36 eventos, majoritariamente relacionados aos subcomponentes Sistema de Gestão e de Inovação Aberta. O comparativo entre a experiência da Oxiote 5 literaturas resultou em 66 pontos; sendo 30 confirmações e 36 contribuições; sumarizados no Manifesto Oxiot, que declara as lições aprendidas em Sistema de Gestão e em cinco Estratégias Funcionais. Adicionalmente, foram elencadas 7 contribuições à prática, como ferramentas de gestão etécnicas de investimento, incluindo Modalidades de Investimento Corporação-Startups; edesenvolvidos dois cases, um sobre a atuação da GE Ventures, e outro, como caso de ensino, sobre valuatione investimento emstartupsearlystage. Conclui-se que este trabalho cumpriu seu propósitoe trouxe resultados além do escopo inicial, contribuindo à prática, teoria e ensino de empreendedorismo. Sugere-se que as \"estratégias funcionais\" possam ser o elemento conciliador faltante entre Modelos de desenvolvimento de startups, práticas em hardware e estratégia; e estas podem embasar umaliteratura específica para hardware. Hipótese que fica como sugestão de pesquisa futura. / This work is based in my experience as one of the founders of Oxiot, startup that monitors medical oxygen consumption per patient trough Internet of Things. The research problem is \"how we developed a hardware startup in Brazil since the Hackathon to the first client\", which unfolds in three questions about the hardware startups literature, Oxiot journey and its contributions. This is a longitudinal study conduct from September 2015 to August 2017. The method employed is Action Research, structured in four cycles, composed by \"Plan\", \"Act & Observe\" and \"Reflect\". The research procedures are based on Process Studies. The hard and soft data collected is displayed using Strategy Narrative and Visual Mapping, and then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. It was sought to neutralize the tendency of the researcher\'s partiality by weighting with third parties. A bibliographic search was conducted in the Web of Science, Google Scholar and Google. 247 works were screened, of which 8 were selected, to which two were added by indication to the author. Of the total 10 analyzed, 3 were classified as Startup Development Models; 4, such as Business Model Development Models; and 3, as Reference Models for Hardware Startups. It was concluded that there is no specific model for hardware startup, although there are applicable concepts from the general literature. The product and the business model formation were stimulated by 36 events, mostly related to the Management System and Open Innovation Subcomponents of the Business Model. The comparison between the Oxiot experience and 5 literatures resulted in 66 notes; being 30 confirmations and 36 contributions; which were summarized in the Oxiot Manifesto, which states the lessons learned in Management System and in five Functional Strategies. In addition, 7 contributions to the practice were listed, such as management tools and investment techniques, including Corporation-Startups Investment Models; and two cases were developed, one about GE Ventures actuation, and another, as a study case, about valuation and investment in early stage startups based on real events. It is concluded that this work fulfilled its purpose and brought results beyond the initial scope, contributing to the practice, theory and teaching of entrepreneurship. It is suggested that \"functional strategies\" could be the conciliatory element missing between startup development models, hardware practices and strategic management; and they could be the base for a specific hardware startup literature. Hypotheses that stands as a suggestion of future research.

Rapport syftar till att undersöka hur Instagram kan användas i marknadsföringssyfte för startup-bolag. Rapporten är en aktionsforskning eftersom den skrivs i samarbete med författarnas eget företag, Made in Majorna. Som startup-bolag har vi en begränsad budget till marknadsföring och vår största marknadsföringskanal är Instagram. Problemet som uppstått är att antalet nya följare och likes har stagnerat och vi vill undersöka ifall det finns en strategi som genererar ett större engagemang. En marknadsföringsmodell för Instagram har byggts upp utifrån den teoretiska referensramen och denna modell testas under två testperioder. Resultatet visar på att en hög aktivitet med varierat innehåll ökar intresset för företaget i form av nya följare och fler likes per dag. Bildtyp är viktigare än tidpunkten när det gäller upplägg av bilder för att skapa engagemang hos våra följare. Resultatet kan konstatera att Instagram i första hand leder till spridning och utökad kännedom av varumärket och inte till direkta köp. Utökad kännedom av varumärket ger ett ökat intresse och leder troligtvis till köp på längre sikt. / Program: Textil produktutveckling och entreprenörskap

Small business entrepreneurs face high failure rates, yet the success of local, state, and national economies relies on the success of small business. With a lack of capital commonly cited as a reason for failure, entrepreneurs must find ways to predict business survival. Grounded in pecking order and enactment theory, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the efficacy of bootstrap financing and numbers of employees in predicting business survival, measured by the business age. The research question was answered by using a predictive correlational quantitative research method with a cross-sectional survey design. The central question was whether the amount of bootstrapping financing, measured by a bootstrapping survey, and numbers of employees significantly predicts firm success, measured by firm age in years. Study participants (n = 111) were owners of small businesses in the state of New Hampshire who had been in business for a minimum of 5 years. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated that bootstrap use and number of employees did not significantly predict business survival. Results indicate support for the pecking order theory of financing with minimal evidence of entrepreneurs enacting their environment. The majority of entrepreneurs surveyed used at least one method of bootstrap finance to support the business. Bootstrapping methods with the highest rate of use were offering the same conditions of all customers, negotiating the best payment terms with suppliers, and buying used equipment over new equipment. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide New Hampshire small business entrepreneurs with information for making informed financial decisions and creating financial models.

Each year, almost 12% of small technology companies fail to survive, and the risks associated with high-tech startups are high for business failure due to the introduction of new technology, similar competitor technology, and the short product life cycle of new products. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the business sustainability strategies that some owners of small technology companies used to remain in operation for longer than 5 years. The population for the study was the owners of 5 small technology companies located in the southeast region of the United States. The general systems theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and review of company documents, 10K report, cash flow, and profit and loss statements. Methodological triangulation and member checking were used to help ensure the reliability of the study. The analysis and data management process included an examination of the data for themes, trends, redundancy and common denominators. Four themes emerged during the research: prior serial entrepreneurial success, willingness to stay the course, ability to raise sufficient capital to meet obligations and driven and passionate owners. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to improve business practices through educating small business owners, first time owners of small businesses, minority and women entrepreneurs, governments, and small business incubators that have a stake in business creation and entrepreneurial development in local communities, on sustainability strategies.

Background: There is an increasing amount of arguments made that new business models are the solution when companies and industries face radical changes in the environment. To be able to prosper in the long run, organizations must reinvent themselves over and over again. Many authors (e.g. Abernathy & Utterback, 1978; Christensen, 1997; Kim & Mauborgne, 2005; Ries, 2011) claim that big, radical, reconfigurations are needed in order to prosper in the long-term. Theories, concepts and framework have been developed to answer how this reconfiguration should happen within organizations. However, the concepts derived are just parts of the solution, and none take a holistic approach, trying to cover them in a practical framework that could be used by organizations. Aim: The aim of the thesis is to propose a framework that enables organizations to systemize their innovation processes, making them flexible enough to repetitively seize opportunities through business model innovation where new value can be created and captured. The proposed framework aims to enable organizations to start discussing how they should create and capture new value and give them a more pragmatic view on the innovation process. It also aims to act as a starting point for future research. Methodology: The thesis follows March & Smith’s (1995) design science methodology in order to build and evaluate the framework. This is done in three steps; first by building a model from theory. Second, the emergence of business models in three different case companies are compared and investigated qualitatively. Lastly the model and the factors derived from the data are contrasted and a framework is built and evaluated. Findings & Conclusion: The basis of the derived framework proposes for big steps to change, and create and capture new value; analyze the basis of competition in the macro and micro environment, analyze and experiment with different non-customer tiers, experiment with the creation of value and experiment and analyze the capture of the value created. More tangible tools are proposed for each of these steps. Actually testing the framework and further evaluating and theorizing of the framework is proposed as future research directions.

Background: Starting up a business is not an easy task; it requires the translation of an idea into reality and requires discipline and a clear goal setting. Moreover with the increasing need of professionalism for outstanding web development and information technology, the plan of an enterprise with high end development and low cost is generated. Purpose: This thesis has a dual purpose; firstly it sets the basis of understanding the terms of entrepreneurship and the environment where a business is created; moreover it explains the acquirement of resources and the structure of the business plan. The second objective is to develop a path for creating a web related business. This document will help to establish the goals and objectives for the performance of the company. Method: The theory presents the relevant information that has to be considered inside the firm. After the theory a business plan was created with the objective of setting the direction of the company over the next years. It is important to mention that business plans are evolving documents that have to be updated according to changes in the environment or changes in the objectives.

Företagskulturen har förändrats i Sverige och det blir vanligare att startupföretag etablerar sig på marknaden. Dessa startupföretag lider av strukturella begränsningar gällande resurser och tillgångar. Samtidigt konkurrerar de på en marknad bland större, mer etablerade företag. Ett påtagligt problem uppstår när en växande företagsform, som gynnar marknaden och den övergripande samhällsnyttan, tvingas möta dessa utmaningar på grund av den särskilda företagsformens utgångspunkter. Av denna anledning är det viktigt att finna kostnads- och resurseffektiva lösningar för dessa företag att använda sig av för att företagsformen fortsatt skall vara attraktiv för företagare. Samtidigt har den externa innehållsmarknadsföringen genomgått revolutionerade utvecklingar gällande teknologiska framsteg och kostnadseffektiva lösningar. Storytelling är ett växande strategiskt verktyg, som vuxit sig starkt och ämnar uppnå genomslag bland konsumenter. Tidigare forskning påvisar att människan lättare tar in och memorerar intryck när de paketeras som berättelser och marknadsförare försöker dra nytta av detta genom storytelling inom deras externa kommunikation. Men tidigare forskning gällande sambandet mellan startupföretags marknadsföring och litteraturvetenskaplig berättandeteknik är svag och vi vill därför skapa en förståelse för hur storytelling används av startupföretag inom den externa innehållsmarknadsföringen. Studien bygger på en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi, med en design där fokus läggs vid kontextuell beskrivning. Empiriinsamlingen består av åtta stycken semi-strukturerade intervjuer med startupföretag i tillväxtfasen. Samtliga av de intervjuade företagen använder sig av storytelling inom deras externa innehållsmarknadsföring. Det sammanställda empiriska resultatet analyseras utifrån genererade huvudteman vilka skapar en kontextuell bild av den verklighet som undersöks. Fem huvudteman genereras och skapar en helhetsbild kring de intervjuade företagens arbete kring storytelling. Vidare analyseras dessa teman ingående och med flera olika underliggande aspekter vilka redogörs för analysen. Resultatet visar att startupföretag använder sig av olika strategier inom storytelling för att nå genomslag bland konsumenter. En övergripande åsikt att storytelling är ett effektivt verktyg inom marknadsföring för företag med begränsade resurser. Startupföretag gör aktiva val i deras strategier gällande storytelling, vilka åläggs olika vikt vid de huvudteman som genereras. Mer generella slutsatser innefattar att litteraturvetenskapliga berättartekniker inte används effektivt eller i större utsträckning bland startupföretagen. Det finns ett stort intresse för storytelling men begränsade resurser och kunskap att utnyttja. De digitala kanalerna har vuxit sig starka och erhållit en större betydelse inom den externa innehållsmarknadsföringen. Slutligen påvisar denna studie att startupföretag kommunicerar på olika sätt, beroende på om de riktar sig mot företag eller slutkonsument. / The corporate culture has changed in Sweden and it has become more common that start-up companies establish their presence of the market. These start-up companies suffer from structural limitations concerning assets and resources. At the same time they are competing on a market, amongst larger, more well established companies. A problem arises when a growing type of enterprise, which stimulates the market and the overall societal benefit, is forced to face these challenges because of start-up company’s characteristics. Because of this, it is important to find cost- and resource efficient solutions for these companies to make use of so that start-up companies can continue to be attractive for entrepreneurs. At the same time, the external content marketing has gone through revolutionary developments concerning technological progress and cost efficient solutions. Storytelling is a growing strategic tool that has grown strong and is used to achieve impact amongst consumers. Earlier research suggest that humans have an easier time to take in and memorize impressions when the impression is packaged and presented in the form of a story and that marketers are trying to make use of this through storytelling within their content marketing. But earlier research into the subject of relationship between marketing and literary studies is weak, and therefore we want to create an understanding for how storytelling is used by start-up companies within their external content marketing. The study is based on a qualitative research strategy with a design that focuses on contextual description. The empirical results are based on eight semi-structured interview with start-up companies in the growth-phase. All of the companies that are interviewed deal with storytelling within their external content marketing. The empirical results were analysed on the basis of generated themes, which create a contextual picture of the reality that is being studied. Five themes were generated and create the entirety of the interviewed companies work concerning storytelling. Furthermore, the themes were analysed in detail with several underlying aspects, which are made clear in the analysis. The results show that start-up companies use several different strategies concerning storytelling, in order to reach impact among consumers. An overarching view is that storytelling is an effective tool within marketing for companies with limited resources. Start-up companies make active choice in their storytelling strategies, and are given different focus depending on which company it is. More general results show that storytelling techniques based on literary studies are not used effectively or extensively among start-up companies. There is a big interest for storytelling but limited resource and knowledge to make use of. The digital channels has grown strong and received a larger roll and meaning within the external content marketing. Finally, the study shows that start-up companies communicate in different ways. Depending on whether they focus on companies or consumers.

Rizikos kapitalo fondai visame pasaulyje sparčiai vystosi ir daro svarbią įtaką šalių ekonomikoms skatindami antreprenerystę ir padėdami kurti didžiules verslo bendroves. Šiame tyrime buvo siekiama išsiaiškinti kokią įtaką ekonomikoms gali daryti rizikos kapitalo fondai ir nuo kokių priežasčių priklauso jų investicijų dydis. Tyrime pastebėta, kad rizikos kapitalo įtaka šalių ekonomikoms gali pasireikšti per įvairiapusį įmonių augimo spartumą ir inovacijų skatinimą, o investicijų dydis, tirtas Baltijos šalių, Lenkijos ir Suomijos atžvilgiu priklauso nuo investicijos tipo, įmonės patentų skaičiaus ir finansinių rodiklių, tiesa, pastarieji labiau galioja Suomijos atžvilgiu. Susisteminti kitų autorių ir mokslininkų tyrimai pateikti pirmojoje dalyje, kurioje aiškinamasi kokią įtaką šalių ekonomikoms gali daryti rizikos kapitalo fondai ir nuo ko priklauso jų investicijų dydis. Antrojoje tyrimo dalyje aprašoma analizei naudojama metodika bei duomenys, taip pat pateikiamas tyrimo ribotumas. Paskutinėje, trečiojoje darbo dalyje yra pateikti ir aprašyti gauti tyrimo rezultatai. / Venture Capital funds are developing very fast across the world and their actions influence economies while stimulating entrepreneurship and creating big businesses. In this paper author tried to find out what influence venture capital funds does to country‘s economy and what reasons makes an impact on investment‘s size. It was noticed, that venture capital can make an impact on country‘s economy through overall business growth and innovation promotion, on the other hand, investment size, analysed in Baltic countries, Poland and Finland, depends on the type of investment, quantity of patents of the company and financial indicators, however, the last two applies more for Finland‘s case. Other authors and scientists researches are summarized in the first part of this paper, where it is investigated what impact venture capital funds can make to country‘s economy and what factors influence their investment size. Methodology, data and limitations of this research are presented and explained in the second part of this paper. The results are described in the last, third part of this paper.

What specific factors contribute to Silicon Valley’s world-renowned success as a high technology district? How significant is California’s rejection of specific regulation restricting the mobility of technical professionals via the nullification of all non-compete agreements? Using in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs seeking to start their own companies, I argue that the ability to effectively ignore non-compete agreements in Silicon Valley is a critical yet understudied premise underlying Silicon Valley’s success. Scholars seeking to understand Silicon Valley’s global success and continuing allure must turn their attention to the effects of this regulation. My findings suggest that an analysis not only of these regulations but of the lack of enforcement around such regulations needs to be a central focus in understanding how Silicon Valley emerged as a high technological powerhouse.