Programa del congreso

This study builds upon prior research to confirm the effectiveness of social media, specifically Twitter, as an indicator of online legitimacy and a predictor of startup survival and growth. By systematically analysing startups across distinct evolutionary stages: Ideation (957 startups), Inception (782 startups), Scale-up (268 startups), and Growth (40 startups), we shift the focus from traditional survival-centric metrics to fundraising success as a robust indicator of overall success. Our empirical findings reveal a significant predictive capability for startup fundraising success, particularly during the Ideation and Inception stages. Our model achieves a predictive accuracy of up to 69%, surpassing the 51% success rate associated with Venture Capitalists evaluations during similar stages. This research makes a substantial contribution to ongoing discussions on entrepreneurship by exploring the causal relationship between online legitimacy and fundraising success. It challenges conventional perspectives by highlighting the proactive role of online legitimacy, as measured through Twitter, as a precursor to, rather than a consequence of, fundraising success and growth within the startup ecosystem.

The objective of this paper is two-fold. Firstly, to know the effect of openness of the accelerator program (diversity of actors and scope of the access to these actors) on the novelty of business model innovation of accelerated startups. Secondly, to understand the mediating role of cross-industry innovation in the aforementioned relationship. This study builds on the literature on open innovation/cross-industry innovation and acceleration programs of start-ups. It proposes a theoretical model and formulate five hypotheses.

An online survey study was conducted on a sample of 78 accelerators in Spain, addressed to directors or managers of acceleration programs. Measurement scales were developed and validated, and a structural equation model with the proposed relationships was tested to estimate the mediation model.

The results showed that cross-industry innovation mediates the positive impact of accelerators’ actors’ scope on business model novelty of start-ups. This finding contributes to the literature of open innovation and accelerators. The main practical implication is that the design of acceleration programs should promote large and dense external networks, as a driver of more innovative business models for the accelerated start-ups.

The creative economy is widely recognized as a crucial driver of economic well-being, yet the mechanisms underlying its development at the urban level remain unclear. This study investigates whether multiple pathways exist for European cultural and creative cities to achieve high levels of creative and knowledge-based employment, which serves as an indicator of a thriving creative economy. We apply Multiple Regression Analysis, Necessary Condition Analysis, and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to data from the Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor, Dealroom ecosystem platform, and Regional Innovation Scoreboard for 169 European cities. Our findings reveal that cultural European cities can achieve high levels of creative and knowledge-based jobs through different pathways, but entrepreneurship and connectedness stand out as key drivers. Our research reveals that business R&D and cultural participation also play important roles, but no single factor guarantees success. Instead, European cities need a combination of these elements to build a thriving creative economy. Moreover, the study shows that cities lacking entrepreneurship are particularly vulnerable to stagnation in creative employment. This research contributes to the understanding of the creative economy, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and urban competitiveness studies, and provides actionable insights for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable creative sector growth across European regions.

• Objetivos: The objective of this study is to investigate how individual characteristics of entrepreneurs (education, self-efficacy perceptions, and social capital), along with their opportunity perceptions and fear of failure, influence the innovative behavior of their new ventures during periods of high uncertainty, such as the post-pandemic year. Additionally, we examine whether the effect of entrepreneurs’ opportunity perceptions on innovation varies across 15 European countries.

• Marco teórico: This study draws on two theoretical frameworks - institutional theory and the theory of planned behavior - to integrate institutional approaches with the influence of individual factors on entrepreneurship.

• Metodología: Multilevel regression analysis was employed, drawing on data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Eurostat, and the UK’s Office for National Statistics, with a sample of 4,659 entrepreneurs from 2021.

• Resultados/implicaciones: Higher educational attainment and self-efficacy perceptions positively influence the innovation of new ventures, highlighting the role of entrepreneurial confidence in navigating uncertainty. Contrary to expectations, social capital and fear of failure do not have a significant effect on innovation, suggesting that the impact of individual characteristics on organizational behavior is context-dependent. This finding also indicates an increased risk tolerance among innovative entrepreneurs during uncertain times.