What companies can learn from unicorn startups to overcome the COVID-19 crisis

• Autor(a) principal: Rodrigues, Cristina Doritta
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Noronha, Matheus Eurico Soares de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista de Administração e Inovação
• Texto Completo: https://www.revistas.usp.br/rai/article/view/215944
• topic: Unicorn startups; Business Model Innovation; Covid-19

Objective. To search measures that unicorn startups have implemented during the pandemic and show what lessons can be learned to help entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses to overcome the crisis.   Design/methodology/approach. The method is a multiple case study with five unicorn startups. We collected data through interviews and analyzed them by the content analysis technique.   Results. They show that the pandemic affects negatively unicorns’ businesses; that a digital business model innovation affects them positively; and that innovations moderate positively the negative impact of the crisis.   Limitations/research implications. Most interviewees hold operational positions.   Practical implications. Three actions stand out to overcome the crisis: adoption of new digital platforms; strategies to increase the network of partners; and adaptations in the provision of payment services.   Originality/value. The cases show that entrepreneurs and SMEs need to develop capabilities to innovate in their business models, and digitalization is a solution to face the crisis and overcome it in the future.