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How to Support Start-Ups in Developing a Sustainable Business Model: The Case of an European Social Impact Accelerator

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  • Thorsten Bergmann

    (Center for Industry and Sustainability (ZIN), Provadis School of International Management and Technology, Building B852, 65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Hannes Utikal

    (Center for Industry and Sustainability (ZIN), Provadis School of International Management and Technology, Building B852, 65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

Abstract

Sustainability-oriented start-ups are fundamental to developing solutions for, and to fostering, a societal transition towards a low carbon society. In this context, social impact accelerators (SIAs) are organizations specializing in accelerating the progress of sustainability-oriented start-ups. In order to design their accelerator elements (e.g., training, coaching, and funding) effectively, SIAs must be aware of the knowledge needs of start-ups to support them in developing a sustainable business model (SBM). Using a case study approach, we present one of the largest cleantech accelerator programs in Europe, the EIT Climate-KIC RIS Accelerator. Based on the program’s curriculum and manual in 2019, we analyze from the perspective of the program how cleantech start-ups could be supported in the development of their SBMs by presenting accelerator elements that are intended to support start-ups in reducing their knowledge needs by (1) providing new knowledge to start-ups (e.g., trainings, workshops, and e-learning), (2) supporting start-ups’ assimilation of new knowledge (e.g., coaching), and (3) supporting start-ups’ application of new knowledge (e.g., documentation of planning and reporting as part of the program’s contract design). Further, we discuss the knowledge needs of 63 European start-ups before and their progress as a result of accelerator participation in developing a SBM based on qualitative and quantitative data. All 63 start-ups participated in the same batch of the accelerator in 2019. Regarding the development of a SBM, knowledge needs are described considering the triple bottom line including the economic, ecological, and social layer of a business model. Based on the start-ups’ evaluation, we reflect—with a focus on the environmental layer—about the most promising content and support elements of our SIA case to address the different layers, discuss their combination, and present improvement potentials to reduce start-ups’ knowledge needs. With our findings, we claim to contribute to theory development in the emerging literature on SIAs and give practitioners working with sustainability-oriented start-ups insights into the usefulness of start-up support programs and different accelerator elements for developing a SBM.

Suggested Citation

  • Thorsten Bergmann & Hannes Utikal, 2021. "How to Support Start-Ups in Developing a Sustainable Business Model: The Case of an European Social Impact Accelerator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-29, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3337-:d:519388
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    2. Luigi Corvo & Lavinia Pastore & Arianna Manti & Daniel Iannaci, 2021. "Mapping Social Impact Assessment Models: A Literature Overview for a Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Nicola Del Sarto & Giulio Ferrigno & Vinit Parida & Alberto Minin, 2023. "Do start-ups benefit from coworking spaces? An empirical analysis of accelerators’ programs," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2471-2502, October.
    4. ShivamKrishn Agrawal & Vijay Kumar Jain & Shipra Agarwal, 2025. "Circular Bioeconomy: a Comprehensive Approach to Planetary Health and Sustainability," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 1483-1508, April.
    5. Zsuzsanna Győri & Yahya Khan & Krisztina Szegedi, 2021. "Business Model and Principles of a Values-Based Bank—Case Study of MagNet Hungarian Community Bank," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-27, August.
    6. Xingyu Qi & Songyan Han, 2022. "The Way toward Sustainability: Policy Attention Evolution of Chinese Local Governments to Promote Entrepreneurship of Returnees Based on Grounded Theory and Social Network Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-25, October.
    7. Heiko Butz & Matthias Jan Mrożewski, 2021. "The Selection Process and Criteria of Impact Accelerators. An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    8. Berna Beyhan & Derya Fındık, 2022. "Selection of Sustainability Startups for Acceleration: How Prior Access to Financing and Team Features Influence Accelerators’ Selection Decisions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    9. Chengchun Wang & Norbert Mundorf & Ann Salzarulo-McGuigan, 2021. "Psychological Well-Being Sustainable during Entrepreneurial Process—The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Creativity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-14, September.

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