Challenges in scaling-up of early-stage start-ups

Abstract

The entrepreneurial environment in India has been developing at a rapid rate with more startups turning unicorns in recent years than in the previous decades combined. However, the other side of the ecosystem shows the startup failure rate in India to be around 90%. This report focuses on identifying the factors that affect the growth of a startup throughout its life cycle and their effect on its success rate. The examination of identified factors is done using qualitative methods of analysis. Research is conducted through a combination of primary data obtained from structured FGDs and interviews and secondary data obtained from literature review and comparisons with startup life cycles in developed nations. The report aims to display the contribution of a given factor in determining the startup’s success and to propose recommendations to overcome the barriers being faced.