New value creation opportunities for Start-ups with I4.0: resources and capitalisation capabilities and effects on the Value Chain

Abstract

Purpose of the paper: this research aims to investigate how I4.0 enables new opportunities of value creation for start-ups using internal or external resources and capabilities related to Industry 4.0 (I4.0).Methodology: we use a qualitative case study research approach, mainly because of the exploratory nature of the research and the newness of the analysed trend.Results: the research points out three possible opportunities for starting new businesses: using a mix of internal and external resources/capabilities (Grafting 4.0), a combination, coordination and management of external resources and capabilities (Pollination 4.0), or internal resources and capabilities with a comprehensive 4.0 approach (Blooming 4.0). For each of them the required 4.0 technologies and the new paradigm's application are examined.Research limitations: The analysed cases are all based in Italy, for a better validation it would be interesting to expand the study to other countries.Practical implications: this paper may be helpful for prospective entrepreneurs that should ask themselves which kind of opportunity they could grab in consideration of the internal and external resources and competencies.Originality of the paper: to the best of our knowledge this paper is amongst the first ones analysing the opportunities given by I4.0 to start new businesses.

Industry 4.0 and Its Impact on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: An Examination of Trends and Key Implications

“…In the cultivation of startups and entrepreneurial ventures, the pivotal role of financial accessibility and investment is emphasized. Within entrepreneurial ecosystems, a complex myriad of funding sources tailored to varied growth trajectories and distinct business demands is observed (Fiorini, 2021). Within these multifaceted financing channels, funds, vital mentorship, and commercial acumen are bestowed by angel investors and individuals of significant net worth.…”

“…A diverse range of financial and investment options is made available within entrepreneurial ecosystems, thus ensuring ventures are well-equipped with the requisite fiscal resources to burgeon and flourish. Given the multifarious financing sources at their disposal, entrepreneurs are afforded the flexibility to tailor their financial strategies, aligning them with their enterprise blueprints and aspirations (Adha et al, 2022;Fiorini, 2021).…”

“…It is discerned that entrepreneurial ecosystems facilitate the assimilation of emergent technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain, and big data analytics, empowering ventures to craft transformative solutions and recalibrate traditional sectors in this digitized epoch. Through e-commerce conduits, digital promotional strategies, and online platforms, startups are enabled to access both local and global markets, amplifying their reach and escalating their operational scale (Fiorini, 2021;Ren et al, 2023). Moreover, in collaborative endeavours with legislative bodies, these ecosystems play pivotal roles in sculpting regulations that promulgate innovation and entrepreneurship, laying the bedrock for a congenial regulatory milieu conducive to ecosystem augmentation.…”