Prozessweiterentwicklung des Gründer:innenstipendiums des Innovationshauptplatzes der Stadt Linz

Abstract

Start-ups play a crucial role in promoting innovation and economic growth, particularly in urban areas. Despite their significance, founders often face considerable challenges, especially in the early stages of establishing a business. These challenges pertain to both the development of ideas and the implementation of business concepts. Against this backdrop, this master’s thesis examines the effectiveness of the Gründer:innenstipendium of the Innovationshauptplatz Linz, which aims to support innovative business ideas and assist in the start-up process. The central research question of this thesis is: What impact does the Founders' Scholarship have on the success and progression of the start-up process, and how can the program be optimized to maximize its effectiveness and benefit for future participants? To address this question, a qualitative methodology was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with former participants of the Founders' Scholarship and analyzed using the principles of qualitative content analysis. The study focused on the experiences of the founders to identify both supporting and hindering factors in the start-up process. The analysis revealed that the Founders' Scholarship has a significantly positive impact on the participants' start-up processes. In particular, the financial support allowed the scholarship recipients to focus intensely on developing their ideas, while the accompanying mentoring programs provided valuable insights and strategic guidance. Despite these positive aspects, certain weaknesses were also identified. Participants highlighted the need to tailor the workshops and training sessions more closely to the individual needs of the founders and to further intensify personal support. Through targeted adjustments, the scholarship could not only increase its effectiveness but also contribute to strengthening the start-up ecosystem in Linz in the long term and to establishing innovative business models even more successfully.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Thomas Prinz (Supervisor)