Engaging with startups: MNC perspectives
Description
Through a conceptual note and roundtable discussion, this article builds upon Buckley and Prashantham’s (2016) notion of the “division of entrepreneurial labor” to examine more closely the perspective of multinational corporations (MNCs) in partnering with startups. First, the capability dimension highlights the potential for value creation arising from complementarities between the strengths of established corporations and startups. Second, the connectivity dimension focuses on how this potential is realized, emphasizing the growing importance of corporations’ structured innovation programs and the role of third-party intermediaries in facilitating collaboration. Third, the contextuality dimension underscores spatial and institutional variations, pointing to the unique opportunities and challenges that MNCs encounter when engaging with startups, particularly in emerging markets. Overall, the study provides a nuanced framework for understanding how MNC–startup partnerships can be structured to create mutual value across diverse contexts. © 2019
Copyright Date
January 2019
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Pagination
407-417p.
DOI
10.1016/j.iimb.2019.01.003
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Keywords
Alliance, Corporation-startup partnering, Dancing with gorillas, Ecosystem, Emerging market, Innovation, Multinational corporation, Startup