Pro-social and Other Motivations of Innovative Start-Ups

Abstract

AbstractStart-ups can contribute to improving the sustainability of business activities in our society. In this study, start-ups that participated in the Swiss Innovation Challenge, a business plan competition, were examined regarding their motivation to found a company. The research question is, which role pro-social motivations of entrepreneurs play in the founding of a start-up. This was examined with an analysis of the start-ups’ motivations in general and secondly with a detailed analysis of their sustainability orientation. First, in a literature review of possible categories of motivations, these were identified: financial motives, self-realization and identity, recognition and status, better working conditions, family tradition, and a pro-social sustainability motivation. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the start-up teams and qualitatively analyzed. Many of the teams mentioned identification with the project and self-realization, this was the dominant motive. While most of the start-ups were profit-oriented, several interviewees also mentioned sustainability motives, with varying priorities. The range of sustainability aspects was particularly wide, also due to the very different business models. Founding teams that included sustainability aspects into their business generally had a higher sustainability orientation. Thus, raising the awareness of sustainable management issues, education, and training could improve the sustainability impact of start-ups.