Common and Unique Features in the Development of Startup Ecosystems in Latvia, Ukraine, and Georgia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1508-2008.28.27

Keywords:

startup, startup ecosystem, economic development, Ukraine, Georgia, Latvia

Abstract

This research presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison of the startup ecosystems in Latvia, Ukraine, and Georgia. It identifies the key factors that foster their development and growth, and highlights the primary obstacles and challenges that confront startups in these countries. The authors used the following methods to achieve these objectives: correlation and regression analysis to examine funding trends and success factors, comparative analysis of key ecosystem parameters, as well as methods of analysis and synthesis. The novelty of the study lies in its identification of the most important factors that influence startup development in the three countries, the construction of a correlation and regression model of startup financing, and the comparative analysis of startup ecosystems. Comparing the startup ecosystems of the three countries revealed both common and unique features of each country, emphasizing how differences in political, economic, and cultural conditions shape startup development.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Autio, E., Kenney, M., Mustar, P., Siegel, D., Wright, M. (2014), Entrepreneurial innovation: The importance of context, “Research Policy”, 43 (7), pp. 1097–1108, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2014.01.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2014.01.015

Bedianashvili, G. (2017), Formation of Knowledge Economy and Innovative Entrepreneurial Policy: Institutional Aspects, “Globalization and Business”, 2 (3), pp. 10–16, https://eugb.ge/index.php/111/issue/view/2/52 (accessed: 9.03.2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35945/gb.2017.03.001

Bedianashvili, G. (2018), Culture as a Factor of Knowledge Economics with Paradigmatic Changes in Systemic Institutional Context, “Globalization and Business”, 3 (6), pp. 58–66, https://doi.org/10.35945/gb.2018.06.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35945/gb.2018.06.007

Cohen, S., Fehder, D.C., Hochberg, Y.V., Murray, F. (2019), The design of startup accelerators, “Research Policy”, 48 (7), pp. 1781–1797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.04.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.04.003

Crișan, E.L., Salanță, I.I., Beleiu, I.N., Bordean, O.N., Bunduchi, R. (2021), A systematic literature review on accelerators, “The Journal of Technology Transfer”, 46, pp. 62–89, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-019-09754-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-019-09754-9

Cukier, D., Kon, F. (2018), A maturity model for software startup ecosystems, “Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, 7, 14, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-018-0091-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-018-0091-6

Debets-kredīts (2023), Wide range of support opportunities will be available for the development of startups in Latvia in the coming years, https://www.d-k.lv/rus/news/32195/ (accessed: 9.03.2025).

Dempwolf, C.S., Auer, J., D’ippolito, M. (2014), Innovation Accelerators: Defining Characteristics Among Startup Assistance Organizations, https://advocacy.sba.gov/2014/10/01/innovation-accelerators-defining-characteristics-among-startup-assistance-organization/ (accessed: 9.03.2025).

Feld, B. (2012), Startup communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City, Wiley, Hoboken, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119204459 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119204459

Forbes Ukraine (2023), Investments in Ukrainian startups are at a seven-year low. There have been no big rounds for almost six months. When will Ukrainian venture capital come out of its coma?, https://forbes.ua/innovations/investitsii-v-ukrainski-startapi-na-semirichnomu-minimumi-velikikh-raundiv-nemae-mayzhe-piv-roku-to-ukrainskiy-venchur-u-komi-23052023-13807 (accessed: 8.08.2025).

Forbes Ukraine (2025), The tech sector is returning to the level of 2021 – AVentures Capital. How much investment have Ukrainian startups attracted, https://forbes.ua/news/tekhnologichniy-sektor-povertaetsya-na-riven-2021-go-aventures-capital-skilki-investitsiy-zaluchili-ukrainski-startapi-03032025-27673 (accessed: 8.08.2025).

Fritsch, M. (2019), Entrepreneurship: Theorie, Empirie, Politik, Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, Berlin, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-57984-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-57984-8

Hottenrott, H., Richstein, R. (2020), Start-up subsidies: Does the policy instrument matter?, “Research Policy”, 49 (1), 103888, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.103888 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.103888

Isenberg, D.J. (2011), The entrepreneurship ecosystem strategy as a new paradigm for economic policy: Principles for cultivating entrepreneurship, Institute of International and European Affairs, Dublin.

Kim, B., Kim, H., Jeon, Y. (2018), Critical Success Factors of a Design Startup Business, “Sustainability”, 10 (9), 2981, https://doi.org/10.3390/su10092981 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10092981

Lee, I., Shin, Y.J. (2018), Fintech: Ecosystem, business models, investment decisions, and challenges, “Business Horizons”, 61 (1), pp. 35–46, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2017.09.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2017.09.003

Menshikov, V., Ruza, O., Kokina, I., Arbidane, I. (2022), Entrepreneurial university: topicality of creation, international experience, situation in Latvia, “Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues”, 9 (4), pp. 156–177, http://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2022.9.4(8) DOI: https://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2022.9.4(8)

Menshikov, V., Ruza, O., Simakhova, A. (2025), Role of Startups in Promoting Innovations and Sustainable Economic Growth, “European Journal of Sustainable Development”, 14 (2), 26, https://doi.org/10.14207/ejsd.2025.v14n2p26 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14207/ejsd.2025.v14n2p26

Menshikov, V., Ruza, O., Simakhova, A., Semeneca, J. (2024), Development of start-up ecosystems in selected countries with a focus on the cases, “Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues”, 12 (1), pp. 437–449, https://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2024.12.1(27) DOI: https://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2024.12.1(27)

Moore, J.F. (1993), Predators and Prey: A New Ecology of Competition, https://hbr.org/1993/05/predators-and-prey-a-new-ecology-of-competition (accessed: 9.03.2025).

Simakhova, A., Menshikov, V., Ruza, O., Nikolaiev, K. (2024), Trends in the development of startup infrastructures in Ukraine, Latvia and Georgia, “Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development”, 8 (9), 7000, https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i9.7000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i9.7000

Stam, E. (2015), Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Regional Policy: A Sympathetic Critique, “European Planning Studies”, 23 (9), pp. 1759–1769, https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2015.1061484 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2015.1061484

Startin.lv (2023), Latvian Startup Report 2023, https://startin.lv/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Latvian_Startup_Report_2023.pdf (accessed: 8.08.2025).

Startin.lv (2024), Latvian Startup Report 2024, https://www.latvia.eu/uploads/2025/02/latvian_startup_report2024.pdf (accessed: 8.08.2025).

Startup Blink (2023), Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2023, https://www.startupblink.com/blog/global-startup-ecosystem-index (accessed: 9.03.2025).

Startup Blink (2025), Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, https://www.startupblink.com/startupecosystemreport (accessed: 5.09.2025).

Startup Büro (2024), https://startupburo.org/ (accessed: 13.04.2024).

Startup Genome (2021), The Global Startup Ecosystem Report GSER 2021, https://cdn.startupgenome.com/sites/62c58b4d00b3f50043b92724/content_entry62c58c4b00b3f50043b92770/62c59d2e61a37b003ec28d70/files/Global_Startup_Ecosystem_Report_GSER_2021.pdf?1657121756 (accessed: 9.03.2025).

World Bank Group (n.d.), Inflation, consumer prices (annual %), https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG (accessed: 1.09.2025).

Ziakis, C., Vlachopoulou, M., Petridis, K. (2022), Start-Up Ecosystem (StUpEco): A Conceptual Framework and Empirical Research, “Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity”, 8 (1), 35, https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8010035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8010035

Downloads

Published

2025-12-10

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Menshikov, Vladimir, Oksana Ruza, Anastasiia Simakhova, and Givi Bedianashvili. 2025. “Common and Unique Features in the Development of Startup Ecosystems in Latvia, Ukraine, and Georgia”. Comparative Economic Research. Central and Eastern Europe 28 (4): 23-43. https://doi.org/10.18778/1508-2008.28.27.