Start-up entrepreneurs' key concerns on path of entrepreneurial innovation

Although start-ups are expected to be critical driving force for the European economy, many challenges during the start-up innovation process hinder the introduction and diffusion of these entrepreneurial innovations. This paper describes a case study the aims to explain concerns that start-up entrepreneurs experience during the start-up innovation process. Study is based on the interviews of 34 entrepreneurs who aim to introduce technology-based innovation to the markets and scale their business internationally. Our findings show that challenges and needs of the start-ups differ in the different phases of the start-up innovation process. For example, entrepreneurs experience the lack of business and strategic competence an issue in the early phase of the development, which however is not expressed to be a concern when new venture starts scaling its business to global markets. Nevertheless, findings highlight that fundraising is major concern for entrepreneurs regardless of the phase of innovation process.