Publicação
Navigating seed funding challenges for sustainable startups
| Resumo: | Sustainability-oriented startups address global sustainability challenges, yet they face significant diJiculties in securing funding. Little is known about the influence of sustainability factors on funding decisions. This thesis examines how sustainability factors shape investment decision-making in the seed funding process for sustainable startups. Using a qualitative approach with a sample of 26 stakeholders (e.g., investors, founders, and other financial stakeholders), the results revealed the importance of balancing financial viability with sustainability considerations, focusing on hybrid metrics, early business traction, and storytelling strategies. Investor expectations vary based on risk perception, regulatory factors, and investment strategies, leading to diJerent approaches for evaluating sustainability-driven startups. The funding landscape becomes even more complex due to challenges like greenwashing concerns, resource-intensive ESG reporting, and uncertainties around scalability. These insights contribute to the literature on sustainable finance and entrepreneurship, including valuable, practical recommendations for entrepreneurs and investors navigating the complex funding process for sustainable startups. |
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| Autores principais: | Semenov, Arni |
| Assunto: | Seed funding Sustainable startups Sustainable entrepreneurship ESG criteria Venture capital Entrepreneurial strategies Investor |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Resumo: | Sustainability-oriented startups address global sustainability challenges, yet they face significant diJiculties in securing funding. Little is known about the influence of sustainability factors on funding decisions. This thesis examines how sustainability factors shape investment decision-making in the seed funding process for sustainable startups. Using a qualitative approach with a sample of 26 stakeholders (e.g., investors, founders, and other financial stakeholders), the results revealed the importance of balancing financial viability with sustainability considerations, focusing on hybrid metrics, early business traction, and storytelling strategies. Investor expectations vary based on risk perception, regulatory factors, and investment strategies, leading to diJerent approaches for evaluating sustainability-driven startups. The funding landscape becomes even more complex due to challenges like greenwashing concerns, resource-intensive ESG reporting, and uncertainties around scalability. These insights contribute to the literature on sustainable finance and entrepreneurship, including valuable, practical recommendations for entrepreneurs and investors navigating the complex funding process for sustainable startups. |
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