Start-up support and young companies have long been a focus of our work. We have evaluated numerous programmes that promote business start-ups out of unemployment, as well as coaching schemes for newly founded companies, often over periods of five years and more. The question is not only whether those supported gain a foothold in the labour market, but also what becomes of the companies: whether they grow, hire staff and innovate.
That our evaluations are so nuanced has a scientific background. Who founds a business, who perseveres, and what distinguishes successful from failed start-ups is the subject of our own research: the role of personality, risk tolerance, trust and start-up motivation. Understanding which people a programme reaches makes it possible to assess its impact more precisely and to design better fitting support.
We also bring this research perspective into direct advisory work: we support start-ups in study and survey design, in preparing and analysing data, and in evidence-based decisions during the early stages of a company. In this way we combine the analytical outside view of evaluation research with hands-on support for individual ventures.
Academic publications on this topic
Caliendo, M., Kritikos, A.S. & Stier, C. (2023): The Influence of Start-up Motivation on Entrepreneurial Performance. Small Business Economics, 61, 869–889.
Caliendo, M., Künn, S. & Weißenberger, M. (2020): Catching up or Lagging Behind? The Long-Term Business and Innovation Potential of Subsidized Start-Ups out of Unemployment. Research Policy, 49(10), 104053.
Caliendo, M., Göthner, M. & Weißenberger, M. (2020): Entrepreneurial Persistence Beyond Survival: Measurement and Determinants. Journal of Small Business Management, 58(3), 617–647.
Caliendo, M., Künn, S. & Weißenberger, M. (2016): Personality Traits and the Evaluation of Start-Up Subsidies. European Economic Review, 86, 87–108.
Caliendo, M. & Künn, S. (2011): Start-Up Subsidies for the Unemployed: Long-Term Evidence and Effect Heterogeneity. Journal of Public Economics, 95(3-4), 311–331.
