Critical modernity, creative thinking, and innovation: startups in Brazil

Abstract

This study aims to understand the criteria that influence the decision-making process of selecting startups that have innovated successfully. In this article, this kind of selection was made by venture capital enterprises. We studied the view of the investors, venture capital professionals, and startup entrepreneurs interviewed. We present the actual global characteristics of the main cities where innovation takes place and the modernism and critical modernism aspects and creative thinking beliefs (Einstein, Habermas). The qualitative research was carried out using an exploratory approach and case study methodology based on semi-structured interviews (nine in total) with professionals from venture capital funds, startup entrepreneurs, and investors. The interviews confirmed several relationships between theories found in the business management literature. Findings such as post-bureaucratic environments (Heckscher), Mintzberg’s (1995) Adhocracy, and Simon’s decision-making process (1987) for pattern recognition were corroborated by the analysis of the interviews. We present some initiatives for innovation such as Station F in France, El Espacio La Nave, Madrid, the Project Porto Maravilha in Rio, and Vila Olimpia e Paulista avenue, São Paulo.