Knowledge Spillovers and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: A Multiple Case Study on High-Tech Start-Ups

Abstract

The study of high-tech start-ups in entrepreneurial ecosystems is critical for social and economic development and has been a major trend in recent research. The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship (KSTE) has enabled new definitions and approaches to emerge for assessing the effects of entrepreneurial ecosystems on start-ups, exploring their impact on e.g., productivity, income, patent creation, and technology development. As a result, this paper seeks to extend current understanding by using individual entrepreneurs as the level of analysis, expanding current regional investigations. We present a review of high-tech startups that have attended incubator and accelerator programs in London, UK. Data were collected from 32 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and new venture founders. The study finds evidence that contradicts existing viewpoints that the successful capture of knowledge spillovers relies on close geographical proximity to other actors in value chains. With the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), start- ups can extend their access beyond central locations and effectively utilize remote teams. Thus, we present a conceptual model that represents the relationship between entrepreneurial ecosystems and knowledge spillover absorption when ICT implementation occurs.