Technology-Oriented Startups in the Intersection of Industry 4.0, Venture Capital Financing and Business Scaling – Empirical Examples from the Automotive Industry –

In the era of Industry 4.0, a new segment of companies emerges, the so-called technology-oriented startups establishing new forms, methods, and channels of knowledge transfer. The notion of “scaling” is well-known in the world of information and technology. Currently, it is also commonly used in business being interpreted concerning applied technology in data procession, sales, etc. Startups’ survival depends on their ability to be successful in international markets. This requires well-established organization management, technology development, sales, and marketing strategy. Technology-oriented startups specialized in Industry 4.0 solutions face a challenge to scale their business. To meet this challenge, they have to find sector-specific answers on what, how, and when to scale to get a sustainable business model. Based on the literature review of this area, we are convinced that there is an ultimate claim for a joint international investigation among researchers and experts to understand the scalability of a business respecting technology-oriented startups in the era of Industry 4.0. The findings of this chapter provide a better understanding of the technology-oriented sector in the automotive sector that has not been analyzed yet, either in national or in an international context.