Driving Sustainable Growth: The Role of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for Startups in Secondary Cities in Europe.
(2025) ENTN19 20251Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- This thesis investigates how startups in Tier 2 European cities achieve
sustainable growth by engaging with their local entrepreneurial
ecosystems. While prior research has largely focused on major capital
cities, this study aims to understand how emerging urban canters with
less mature infrastructures can still support high-growth
entrepreneurial activity. A qualitative research design was employed, based on semi-structured
interviews with eleven startup founders and key decision-makers
across various industries in Tier 2 cities. The Gioia methodology
guided the analysis, enabling inductive theory development through
coding of first-order concepts, second-order themes, and aggregate
dimensions. The study identifies four key... (More) - This thesis investigates how startups in Tier 2 European cities achieve
sustainable growth by engaging with their local entrepreneurial
ecosystems. While prior research has largely focused on major capital
cities, this study aims to understand how emerging urban canters with
less mature infrastructures can still support high-growth
entrepreneurial activity. A qualitative research design was employed, based on semi-structured
interviews with eleven startup founders and key decision-makers
across various industries in Tier 2 cities. The Gioia methodology
guided the analysis, enabling inductive theory development through
coding of first-order concepts, second-order themes, and aggregate
dimensions. The study identifies four key dimensions through which startups
interact with their ecosystems: (1) activating local entrepreneurial
networks, (2) driving venture development, (3) leveraging location-
based factors, and (4) utilizing local support structures. Rather than
simply overcoming limitations compared to Tier 1 cities, founders
leverage the distinctive strengths of Tier 2 environments such as
personal networks, regional specializations, and accessible
institutional support to build sustainable ventures. The thesis contributes to entrepreneurial ecosystem literature by
offering an empirical framework that captures the adaptive strategies
startups employ in underrepresented geographic contexts. It extends
the understanding of how location, founder agency, and systemic
conditions intersect to influence startup growth. Practical insights are
also provided for policymakers and ecosystem developers seeking to
strengthen regional innovation ecosystems. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9203584
- author
- Wohltmann, Lucas LU and Hoyng, Pim LU
- supervisor
-
- Ziad El-Awad LU
- organization
- course
- ENTN19 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- Entrepreneurial ecosystems, Tier 2 cities, sustainable growth, startups, qualitative research, regional development, innovation strategy
- language
- English
- id
- 9203584
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-24 10:01:29
- date last changed
- 2025-06-24 10:01:29
@misc{9203584, abstract = {{This thesis investigates how startups in Tier 2 European cities achieve sustainable growth by engaging with their local entrepreneurial ecosystems. While prior research has largely focused on major capital cities, this study aims to understand how emerging urban canters with less mature infrastructures can still support high-growth entrepreneurial activity. A qualitative research design was employed, based on semi-structured interviews with eleven startup founders and key decision-makers across various industries in Tier 2 cities. The Gioia methodology guided the analysis, enabling inductive theory development through coding of first-order concepts, second-order themes, and aggregate dimensions. The study identifies four key dimensions through which startups interact with their ecosystems: (1) activating local entrepreneurial networks, (2) driving venture development, (3) leveraging location- based factors, and (4) utilizing local support structures. Rather than simply overcoming limitations compared to Tier 1 cities, founders leverage the distinctive strengths of Tier 2 environments such as personal networks, regional specializations, and accessible institutional support to build sustainable ventures. The thesis contributes to entrepreneurial ecosystem literature by offering an empirical framework that captures the adaptive strategies startups employ in underrepresented geographic contexts. It extends the understanding of how location, founder agency, and systemic conditions intersect to influence startup growth. Practical insights are also provided for policymakers and ecosystem developers seeking to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems.}}, author = {{Wohltmann, Lucas and Hoyng, Pim}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{Driving Sustainable Growth: The Role of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for Startups in Secondary Cities in Europe.}}, year = {{2025}}, }