Does “The Lean Startup” increase startups’ chances of success in Lisbon? : introduction to a “Leanness” scale

When following “The Lean Startup” (TLS) methodology, described by Eric Ries, startups are expected to have higher chances of success than conventional startups. The following study is the first attempt to empirically assess TLS approach macroscopic impact on startups’ death rates in the Lisbon’s ecosystem. A survey with validated “leanness” measuring scale, was used to classify startups. A local startup database, built using mainly online resources, diffused the survey through out Lisbon’s established startups. In addition, several semi-structured interviews were held with local entrepreneurship experts to complement quantitative findings. Lisbon’s “Lean” startups’ death rates were compared against “non-Lean” startups. No meaningful correlation between TLS usage and lower startups’ death rates were found. Additionally, studying TLS methodology adoption rates in Lisbon was not possible due to sample size limitations. Furthermore, no connection between increased investor’s confidence towards “Lean” investment opportunities was qualitatively found, neither have experts stood behind standardized metrics to monitor startups’ progress. Startups’ information is scattered and outdated, rendering research challenging and time-consuming. Startups struggle to standout from small businesses also riding the entrepreneurial hype, forming a foggy entrepreneurial hotspot. A startup certification process would be invaluable to highlight, accurately entitle fiscal benefits, increase investors’ exposure and monitor real startups’ progress. The developed “Leanness” scale could also be used to measure how much startups actually follow TLS methodology. Further groundwork is still needed to set the first research foundations on the subject in Lisbon.Seguindo a metodologia "The Lean Startup” (TLS), descrita por Eric Ries, espera-se que as startups tenham maior sucesso que startups tradicionais. Este estudo classifica-se como uma primeira tentativa de avaliar empiricamente o impacto macroscópico da metodologia TLS nas taxas de mortalidade de startups no ecossistema de Lisboa. Construiu-se uma base de dados de startups em Lisboa e, posteriormente, difundiu-se o primeiro questionário com uma escala de "Leanness" para estudá-las. Adicionalmente, foram conduzidas entrevistas semiestruturadas com empreendedores especialistas para enriquecer a pesquisa quantitativa. Não foi encontrada uma correlação significativa entre o uso da abordagem TLS e a redução das taxas de mortalidade de startups. Devido à falta de informação, não foi possível perceber qual é o grau de adoção da metodologia TLS. Não foi encontrada uma razão que justifique a maior confiança de investidores relativamente a oportunidades de investimento em startups que usam os princípios TLS. Especialistas em empreendedorismo não chegaram a um consenso no que diz respeito a um conjunto de métricas para monitorizar o progresso de startups. A sua informação no ecossistema de Lisboa encontra-se dispersa e desatualizada, o que tornou o estudo demorado e complexo. As startups esforçam-se por se destacarem dos pequenos negócios que se alimentam do alvoroço em redor do empreendedorismo, transformando Lisboa num polo saturado e confuso. Ainda há muito por descobrir neste ecossistema e, futuramente, os processos de certificação de startups e identificação de startups que utilizam os princípios TLS a partir da escala “Leanness” seriam caminhos a explorar

Understanding the Trends of European Startup Ecosystems

The world faces numerous crises, being the economic and financial crisis, the more worrying crisis and which people become more aware, to find solutions to various problems, namely unemployment, especially youth unemployment. Throughout the evolution of the world, entrepreneurship phenomenon went hand in hand with economic and technological development, providing new businesses with innovative concepts, responding to people's needs. Today, entrepreneurship continues to be important to the economies, as it adds new companies with value by presenting people with talent, with creative sense and innovative products and services. With technological development and financial assistance from investors or government, we have witnessed an exponential growth of startups over the past few years. Entrepreneurial education also encouraged this development, presenting conferences and workshops, calling students to innovation, creating your own startup. In reply to the growth and development of European ecosystems, this research work was developed to analyze the reality of European ecosystems. The aim is to understand whether there are trends in choosing economic sectors, business models and pricing models. This investigation is composed by an extensive literature review to startups and startup ecosystem and by an empirical study to startups’ perception concerning to this subject. To acquire empirical data it was conducted an online questionnaire directed to a sample of startups registered on online platform. This study confirmed the existence of trends by information gathered from online platform and the online questionnaire. It is proposed a recommendation, which will help to continue the investigations concerning to this subject

A Relevância das Câmaras de Comércio como instrumento de Diplomacia, Comércio e Cultura Interestatal no Mundo Global– A Câmara de Comércio Luso-Britânica

O presente Relatório de Estágio serve para finalizar a Componente Não Letiva do Mestrado em Ciência Política e Relações Internacionais (Área de Especialização em Relações Internacionais) na Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA FCSH) e, consequentemente, para a obtenção do grau de Mestre do mesmo. Este Estágio de cariz curricular foi realizado na Câmara de Comércio Luso-Britânica, com a duração de 6 meses, tendo como data de início dia 1 de outubro de 2020 e data de término dia 31 de março de 2021. Com este Relatório de Estágio, pretendo fazer uma ponte de ligação entre o tema escolhido – A Relevância das Câmaras de Comércio como instrumento de Diplomacia, Comércio e Cultura Interestatal no Mundo Global – e o estudo de caso que é a Câmara de Comércio Luso-Britânica. Para tal, existirá primeiramente uma reflexão teórica sobre a Diplomacia, o Comércio Internacional e a Cultura como três grandes motores das Relações Internacionais no Mundo Global, sobre a relevância Interestatal das Câmaras de Comércio e, consequentemente, existirá também um foco teórico no que diz respeito às relações bilaterais entre Portugal e o Reino Unido (relações bilaterais diplomáticas, comerciais, culturais e a questão do Brexit). Não obstante, existirá uma ênfase sobre o funcionamento da instituição onde decorreu o Estágio, a Câmara de Comércio Luso-Britânica e, por fim, uma alusão e descrição detalhada das atividades realizadas, do conhecimento e das competências adquiridos, bem como uma reflexão, retrospetiva e perspetivas futuras sobre as mesmas.This Internship Report serves to finalize the Non-Teaching Component of the Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations (Field of Expertise in International Relations) at Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA FCSH) and, consequently, to obtain the Master's degree. This curricular internship was held at the British-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and it lasted 6 months, starting on October 1, 2020 and ending on March 31, 2021. With this Internship Report, I intend to bridge the chosen theme - The Relevance of Chambers of Commerce as an instrument of Inter-State Diplomacy, Commerce and Culture in the Global World - and the case study that is the British-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce itself. To this end, there will be first a theoretical reflection on Diplomacy, International Trade and Culture as three major drivers of International Relations in the Global World, on the Inter-State relevance of Chambers of Commerce and, consequently, there will also be a theoretical focus on bilateral relations between Portugal and the United Kingdom (bilateral diplomatic, commercial, cultural relations and Brexit itself). Nevertheless, there will be an emphasis on the functioning of the institution where the Internship took place, the British-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce. Last but not least, a reference and a detailed description of the activities carried out, the knowledge and the skills acquired, as well as a reflection, retrospective and future perspectives on them