An Investigation into Start-up Challenges During COVID-19 Pandemic

This research report examines the challenges faced by start-ups and entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically focusing on the incubation and acceleration processes. The study aims to identify major issues and challenges, exploring the impact of the pandemic on funding, expert assistance, and opportunities for growth. The methodology includes a literature review, a deductive research approach, and a survey strategy with a quantitative research choice using questionnaires. The report investigates the effects of the pandemic on the availability of funds, expert support, and opportunities for entrepreneurs, and proposes solutions such as adaptation to new regulations, the use of advanced technology, and the provision of recovery solutions. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of incubation and acceleration for start-ups and new companies, while the recommendations suggest ways to overcome the challenges associated with the pandemic.

RESEARCH
METHODS
(An investigation into the challenges on incubation and
acceleration processes for start-ups and entrepreneurs
during COVID-19)

TABLE OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................4
AIM..................................................................................................................................................................4
OBJECTIVE....................................................................................................................................................4
RATIONALE...................................................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................................................................5
METHODOLOGY...........................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................................10
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................................11
TIMELINE.....................................................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................................13

ABSTRACT
The main motive of conduction research is to determine the challenges on incubation and
acceleration process for entrepreneurs and start-ups during COVID-19, for these secondary and
primary sources are used for collecting relevant data. In primary questionnaire is used to get raw
data where secondary sources like books, journals and articles are used.

INTRODUCTION
Incubation process refers to the process which is quite flexible and unique combination of
development processes of business, people and infrastructure designed for nurturing small and new
businesses by assisting them to grow and survive from vulnerable and difficult starting stages of
development (Dee and et. al, 2019). So in a very simple it gives supportive, nurturing and
instructive environment to the entrepreneurs at the stages which are very critical of initiating a new
business. The acceleration process is defined as process in which the focus is towards the fast
development and growth of the start-ups and for sorting all the difficulties related to organization,
operation, finance and strategy by using systematic and proper approach.
AIM
“To identify the major issues and challenge on incubation and acceleration processes for start-ups
and entrepreneurs during COVID-19.”
OBJECTIVE
 To increase basic understanding up to 80 percent regarding the concept of incubation and
acceleration within 1 month of time period.
 To identify the basic 3 challenges of incubation and acceleration process for entrepreneurs
and start-ups during the COVID-19.
 To measure the 4 ways for overcoming challenges associated with incubation and
acceleration process within 2 months.
RATIONALE
The main purpose of conducting this research is to investigate the challenges on incubation
and acceleration processes for start-ups and entrepreneurs during COVID-19. There are also other
two perspectives that are fulfilled by conducting this current research. The first perspective is
personal perspective which is attained that I have learnt about the personality of entrepreneurs their
behavior which would help me in my personal life that patience is necessary and the other one is
professional perspective through this I have learnt about the various changes that are faced by
entrepreneurs at the incubation stage through this I would be able to solve such issues when I will
start my own start-up.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is quite significant chapter for conducting research in systematic way. In
this researcher gathers different types of information for answering the questions of research. There
are various types of sources which are used by researcher to gather information like books, journals,
articles, journals, reputed newspapers and many more.
Define understanding up to 80 percent regarding the concept of incubation and acceleration
within 1 month of time period?
According to Hillemane, Satyanarayana and Chandrashekar (2019), incubation refers to
the process in which an individual or a company supports in establishing and growing of a startup.
Those individuals and organizations that are supporting startup and all new companies are known as
business incubators. Before providing funds or supporting new startups business incubators
evaluate the potential to grow and weigh opportunities. In this process, start ups are selected after
doing high level of research so that funds can be invested in a right opportunity. So, basically
incubation process increases the chances of success for business. In simpler words business
incubation is a process of economic development by helping new companies or start ups to set in a
community.
As per the opinion of Syed Ibrahim and et. Al, (2019), acceleration process aims to support
a startup to find and develop a successful, repeatable and viable business. Accelerators match their
goals, objectives and interests with those startups in respect to give an effective and efficient
program. In acceleration process, accelerators look for business models that are innovative and are
able to give mentorship to the new companies and businesses. In this innovative products and
services are included with guidance from expertise. It focuses on providing finance to the new
companies for adding value to their products or services.
What are the basic 3 challenges of incubation and acceleration process for entrepreneurs and
start-ups during the COVID-19?
According to Eveleens, Rijnsoever and Niesten (2017), there have been challenges of
incubation and acceleration process for entrepreneurs and start-ups during the COVID-19, some of
them are given below:
No funds: During covid-19, startups have faced problem of lack of funds because accelerators and
incubators were not able to provide seed money to start ups on new companies as economy was

down. So, incubation and acceleration process failed miserably because incubators and accelerators
know that investing in startups on new companies at this time is risky because it is uncertain
situation. Incubators have pulled out their money from startups because of such uncertain situations.
Help from expertise: Entrepreneurs get help from expertise through incubation and acceleration
process but COVID-19 situation has made a barrier between incubators and entrepreneurs as they
are not able to attend seminars, mentorship or workshop which created a negative impact on their
new business.
No opportunities: During incubation and acceleration process entrepreneurs get many
opportunities but COVID-19 has created negative impact on entrepreneurs as do not get any
opportunity to grow or develop their start ups on new company. They do not get any support from
any investors because of uncertainty. COVID-19 has created a roadblock between success path of
entrepreneurs and startups and development of an economy.
What are the 4 ways for overcoming challenges associated with incubation and acceleration
process within 2 months?
According to Battistella, De Toni and Pessot (2017), the 4 ways for overcoming challenges
associated with incubation and acceleration process within 2 months are:
Adaptation: The process of acceleration and incubation in terms of startups focus on adapting in
the current situation of COVID-19 so that all the processes and operations are done by new rules
and regulations and the operations can continue. Postponing any activity or operations by deadlines
must be avoided.
Using advanced technology: Accelerators and incubators in the process move on towards
advanced technology for providing knowledge to entrepreneurs and startups so that they can be
regularly guided for their business. The technologies may include calls on video conference, using
different means of online resources and introducing new way to work.
Provide recovery solutions: Accelerators and incubators require providing recovery funds for
supporting startups and entrepreneurs. There is need of revisiting business model for supporting
start ups and entrepreneurs in post COVID-19 world.

METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is considered by researcher for collecting and analyzing information
effectively and efficiently. For this researcher has used different research methods through that
quantitative and qualitative data are collected in a systematic manner. Some of the methods used by
researcher are briefly explained below:
Research philosophy: Research philosophy refers to the set of different principles which are
concerned to worldview from which the investigation is conducted. Research philosophy is
generally studies in respect of epistemology and ontology. The position of philosophy in the usage
of academic study is basically classifies in two kinds that are positivism and interpretivism.
Positivism philosophy defines as the knowledge which is independent from the subject that is being
studied whereas interpretivism have observers who have own understanding. Positivism would be
selected because it is quantitative in nature and assist in collecting, using and measuring only
numerical data.(Zangirolami-Raimundo, Echeimberg and Leone, 2018).
Research Approach: Research approach is defined as the process which is necessary to undertake
by the researcher. Approach is divided into two significant kinds which are: inductive and deductive
approach. Deductive approach will be selected by investigator because it initiates with particular

hypothesis development based upon literature review whereas inductive focuses on creating new
theory. Deductive approach also supports positivism philosophy and gathers quantitative
information (Mishra and Alok, 2017). With deductive approach researcher has focused on
collecting and analyzing numerical information.
Research Strategies: This refers to the stage where an investigator focuses on executing the work.
There are different kinds of research strategies which are generally known as action research, case
study, survey, experimental research and so on. All these are effective in gathering relevant
information as per the topic of research but to attain the objectives of current research, research will
take help of survey because it would give great statistical data, outcome and convenient manner to
collect information.
Research Choices: Research choice refers to the type of data researcher wants to gather and
analyze. It has been majorly divided into two individual parts: qualitative and quantitative research
choice. Quantitative research choice focuses on collecting that which is of in number or numerical
form whereas qualitative research choice focuses on collecting data which are of qualitative in
nature and more of subjective form. Researcher is choosing quantitative research choice because it
supports the pre-defined objectives of research and this type of information is easier to collect and
evaluate in the favor of research (Bairagi and Munot, 2019).
Data Collection: Data collection plays the major role in conducting every type of research because
it provides collection of information at right time. Primary and secondary data collections are of
two types and researcher depends on both the kinds. Researcher will select both the kinds of data
collection for the current research. With the assistance of primary, researcher focuses on getting
data that is raw in nature and has never been used earlier whereas by secondary data collection,
investigator focuses on getting information which have existence in this universe and have already
published. It has been gathered by books, journals, newspaper, magazines and so on (Murshed and
Zhang, 2016).
Time Horizon: Time horizon is termed as time frame of the investigation. So it also divided into
major parts which longitudinal and cross-sectional. The cross-sectional is effective when the
activities are dedicated to single point of time like in surveys and longitudinal are for many years,
months, quarters and days. Cross sectional would be selected because it supports activities of
researcher in a very short period of time (Dodds and Hess, 2020).

Research Design: Research design refers to the procedure of gathering, using and analyzing
information according to the topic. Research design is classified into three significant parts that are:
descriptive, experimental and exploratory. The present research would take assistance of descriptive
research design because it describes the situation or population systematically. It also helps in
collecting and evaluating numerical data without consuming much time. It gives in-depth data
according to the subject of the study (Akhtar, 2016).
Research Instruments: Research instrument refers to the significant part of research methodology
considered for collecting relevant, accurate and reliable information. This is divided into different
types like focus group, observation, interview and questionnaire. Research would select
questionnaire because it will help in getting quick outcomes and reliable data.
Sampling: Sampling refers to the method that selects sample from large population. It has two
important types: probability and non-probability sampling (Etikan and Bala, 2017). In this research
researcher would choose probability sampling due to its nature as it helps in selecting large portion
of population to collect data in quantitative manner. 10 entrepreneurs will be selected as participants
to gather their views about challenges related to incubation and acceleration process.
Research Ethics: Ethics are quite important in research and necessary for investigator because it
assists them in achieving aim and objectives of research. In this researcher focuses on getting
informed consent from selected participants of research, minimizing any risk that can harm
participants and protecting confidentiality of the chosen participants.
Data Analysis: Data analysis refers to the procedure of collecting information with the assistance
of analytical technique. In regards to present research topic, researcher will be collecting
quantitative information with the help of questionnaire. So, for successful evaluation of quantitative
data, frequency distribution analysis is used as means of analysis technique. This technique would
help investigator in evaluation of numerical data.

CONCLUSION
As per the above provided information, it is being concluded that incubation and
acceleration process plays important role for startups and entrepreneurs. Pandemic like COVID-19
has created problems for new companies as well as incubators and accelerators. Entrepreneurs get
an opportunity with the process of incubation and acceleration to increase their business strategy
and objectives.

RECOMMENDATIONS
As per the above given information it is being recommended to entrepreneurs and start-ups
that they should be always ready to face uncertain and risky situations so that they do not feel
pressure on them. They should always have a plan B so that if plan A fails then they can depend
upon plan B. They should have proper knowledge about the current situation of an economy as well
as their industry.

TIMELINE

REFERENCES
BOOKS AND JOURNALS
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