[Séminaire Eat and Think] Does Governance of EE matter for startup´s performance? - IGR-IAE Rennes

Abstract:

This study investigates the role of governance in entrepreneurial ecosystems and its impact on the performance of startups. We employed structural equation modeling, analyzing data collected from 245 startups. Our findings indicate that specific elements – innovation infrastructure, social interaction, quality of life, and a supportive institutional and legal environment – exert a positive influence on collaborative governance within entrepreneurial ecosystems. Moreover, the same three elements demonstrate an indirect relationship with knowledge acquisition in startups, mediated by collaborative governance. We highlighted that the role of collaborative governance in entrepreneurial ecosystems is: a) to establish policies, norms, and guidelines that guide the access and use of the existing innovation infrastructure in the ecosystem; b) to act as a catalyst to maximize the benefits of the local social capital and enable effective advocacy for legislative changes and the creation of policies and support mechanisms that are more aligned with the needs and objectives of the ecosystem. The results also indicate that only financial capital and infrastructure for innovation have a direct and significant effect on knowledge acquisition and we confirm that knowledge acquisition significantly enhances startup performance. Finally, we confirm that governance of entrepreneurial ecosystem matters for startup performance.