Start-up Success in a Small Island State: A Study among Entrepreneurs in Malta

Abstract

This study focuses on entrepreneurs in the small island state of Malta and investigates whether starting up and running an enterprise is facilitated or hindered by being in a small island environment. Specifically it asks (1) whether being on a small island, on the periphery of a major market, facilitates or hinders entrepreneurship and start-up success; (2) whether Malta’s cultural context and enterprise environment affect entrepreneurship and start-up success; (3) what the key success factors among Maltese start-ups are; and (4) how creativity and innovation are reflected in Maltese start-ups. Qualitative research among 13 start-ups is supported by telephone-based research among a sample of 90 respondents. Findings contribute to the pool of business expertise and context-specific information from small island states that is often missing from the international literature.