Soft starters, research boutiques and product-oriented firms: different business models for spin-off companies

Roland Helm and Oliver Mauroner

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2011, vol. 12, issue 4, 479-498

Abstract: In the present study we investigate the business model dimension in the starting configuration of such companies, which refers to the degree of product orientation the company already has at its time of incorporation. We found three different types of business models. The first category consists of technical consulting firms and research boutiques and the second category includes start-ups with product-oriented attitude from day one. Finally in category three we group companies that start as consulting agencies, with the specific intention to become product-oriented companies, the so called 'soft starters' or transitional start-ups (Heirman et al., 2003).

Keywords: soft starters; spin-off firms; technology transfer; product orientation; business models; research boutiques; technical consultancies; consultants; consulting agencies; transitional start-ups; Germany; universities; higher education; Ans Heirman; R&D; research and development; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; entrepreneurs; academic entrepreneurship. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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