RISK MANAGEMENT IN STARTUP PROJECTS: LEARNINGS FROM SELECT CASES IN INDIA

Abstract

Startup projects constitute an essential component in building a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and generating viable employment that can drive sustainable economic growth in a developing country like India. However, startup projects that come up in a dynamic global business scenario face a multitude of risks that challenge their success. Our study aims at identifying various risk factors that are peculiar to startup units in India. Over 30 case studies were carried out across a variety of industrial projects and select NGOs to help identify specific risk factors that mar the success of startup units in the Indian environment. Our study finds specific risk factors at the strategic as well as operational levels that are important for success of the startup unit. It is hoped that the findings of this study will help to identify various risks during the early stages and thus improve the success rate of startup projects.