This thesis aims to investigate how the advantages offered by startup accelerators in their package of services affect the growth of climate tech startups. This research refers explicitly to growth in terms of headcount, new business opportunities (clients), and investment raised. The study is based on a climate tech-focused accelerator program in the United Kingdom. This thesis follows a qualitative approach with a multiple case study design. The data were collected through five semi-structured interviews with four CEOs and one manager from five UK climate tech startups that participated in the Tech Nation Net Zero program's first cohort in the UK from September 2020 to March 2021. The cases were program through a cross-case analysis and referring to the theory on ecosystem thinking for survival and success of cleantech businesses proposed by Shah Rukh Shakeel and the theory regarding the advantages of participating in accelerator programs described by Paul Miller and Kirsten Bound. The findings from this study show the importance for climate tech startups to rely on the ecosystem to find the resources and support they need to grow their business, with a specific focus on startup accelerators. Furthermore, the research suggests the presence of advantages regarding the participation in climate tech-focused startup accelerators. The advantages include advice and feedback from experienced entrepreneurs, introduction to investors, support with hiring, validation given by the program's prestige and visibility with investors and clients, access to the customer network of the program sponsors, and peer support within the cohort. Finally, this thesis suggests that the prestige of the accelerator program helps climate tech startups signal to potential investors their seriousness regarding the way they address the climate challenge and offer products and services aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Questa tesi indaga come i vantaggi offerti dagli acceleratori di startup nel loro pacchetto di servizi influiscano sulla crescita delle startup climate tech, in termini di numero di impiegati, nuove opportunità di business (clienti) ed investimenti. Lo studio si basa su un programma di accelerazione climate tech nel Regno Unito. Questa tesi segue un approccio qualitativo basato su cinque casi di studio. I dati sono stati raccolti attraverso cinque interviste semi-strutturate con quattro amministratori delegati e un manager di cinque startup climate tech britanniche, che hanno partecipato alla prima edizione del programma di accelerazione Net Zero di Tech Nation, nel Regno Unito, da settembre 2020 a marzo 2021. I casi sono stati analizzati attraverso un'analisi comparativa e con riferimento alla teoria sul ruolo degli ecosistemi di startup per la sopravvivenza e il successo delle imprese cleantech, proposta da Shah Rukh Shakeel, e alla teoria sui vantaggi della partecipazione a programmi di accelerazione, descritta da Paul Miller e Kirsten Bound. I risultati di questo studio mostrano l’importanza, per le startup climate tech, di fare affidamento sull'ecosistema per trovare le risorse e il supporto necessario per far crescere la propria attività, con un focus specifico sugli acceleratori di startup. Inoltre, la ricerca suggerisce la presenza di vantaggi, per quanto riguarda la partecipazione ad acceleratori di startup climate tech, inclusi consigli e feedback da imprenditori esperti, introduzione ad investitori, supporto con assunzioni, legittimazione data dal prestigio del programma e visibilità con investitori e clienti, accesso alla rete di clienti degli sponsor del programma e supporto tra startup partecipanti. Infine, questa tesi suggerisce che il prestigio del programma di accelerazione aiuti le startup climate tech a segnalare a potenziali investitori la loro serietà riguardo al modo in cui affrontano la sfida climatica e offrono prodotti e servizi volti a ridurre le emissioni di gas serra.
THE IMPACT OF ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS SUPPORT ON THE GROWTH OF CLIMATE TECH STARTUPS: UK NET ZERO CASE STUDY
BADIA, JENNIFER
2020/2021
Abstract
This thesis aims to investigate how the advantages offered by startup accelerators in their package of services affect the growth of climate tech startups. This research refers explicitly to growth in terms of headcount, new business opportunities (clients), and investment raised. The study is based on a climate tech-focused accelerator program in the United Kingdom. This thesis follows a qualitative approach with a multiple case study design. The data were collected through five semi-structured interviews with four CEOs and one manager from five UK climate tech startups that participated in the Tech Nation Net Zero program's first cohort in the UK from September 2020 to March 2021. The cases were program through a cross-case analysis and referring to the theory on ecosystem thinking for survival and success of cleantech businesses proposed by Shah Rukh Shakeel and the theory regarding the advantages of participating in accelerator programs described by Paul Miller and Kirsten Bound. The findings from this study show the importance for climate tech startups to rely on the ecosystem to find the resources and support they need to grow their business, with a specific focus on startup accelerators. Furthermore, the research suggests the presence of advantages regarding the participation in climate tech-focused startup accelerators. The advantages include advice and feedback from experienced entrepreneurs, introduction to investors, support with hiring, validation given by the program's prestige and visibility with investors and clients, access to the customer network of the program sponsors, and peer support within the cohort. Finally, this thesis suggests that the prestige of the accelerator program helps climate tech startups signal to potential investors their seriousness regarding the way they address the climate challenge and offer products and services aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/1574