Enabling Factors for the Development of Startups

The creation and development of innovative startups have been the focus of scientific contributions that have sought to explore and to identify the key success factors having a significant impact on their creation, survival and business performance. However, their role and contribution have been scarcely explored. To fill this gap existing in the literature, the paper intends to examine the roles and the contributions of several “enabling” factors, which can differently influence the creation and development of innovative startups in a business ecosystem. More specifically, these enabling factors are the following: local strengths, inspiring entrepreneurs/previous experience, the role of legislation/incentives and investor and venture capitalist support.The study provides a theoretical framework that helps policymakers when aiming to stimulate and sustain the creation, development and expansion of innovative startups and supporting new entrepreneurs in identifying which kind of factors could sustain their activities and their success.