Startup Development Process Management: From Idea to Scaling
Babych S. M.

Babych, Svetlana M. (2026) “Startup Development Process Management: From Idea to Scaling.” The Problems of Economy 1:158–166.
https://doi.org/10.32983/2222-0712-2026-1-158-166

Section: Economics and Enterprise Management

UDC 334.72:005.8:001.895

Abstract:
The aim of the article is a comprehensive study of the theoretical and practical aspects of managing the startup development process at all stages of their life cycle – from the idea generation to business scaling, as well as identifying efficient approaches, methods, and tools that ensure their successful functioning in a dynamic and uncertain market environment. By analyzing, systematizing, and summarizing the scientific works of domestic and foreign scholars, the evolution of approaches to interpreting the essence of startups was examined and their role in the modern innovative economy was determined. As a result of the study, the main scientific approaches to understanding startups were summarized, in particular structural, process, functional, innovative, and institutional approaches, which made it possible to reveal their multidimensional nature as an economic phenomenon. It was substantiated that a startup is a complex dynamic system that combines features of an organizational form, an innovative process, and a scalable business mechanism. Key characteristics of startups have been identified, including innovativeness, a high level of risk and uncertainty, limited resources, flexibility, a focus on finding a business model, and the ability to scale rapidly. It has been proved that startups play an important role in the development of an innovative economy, contribute to digital transformation, enhance competitiveness, and create new markets. It has been found that efficient management of startup development requires a systematic approach considering the specifics of each stage of their life cycle, including the stages of idea generation, validation, launch, growth, and scaling. The necessity of using modern management tools has been substantiated, such as agile methodologies, the development of a minimum viable product (MVP), testing business hypotheses, key performance indicators analytics, and integrated approaches to managing both product and team. It has been proven that the application of an iterative approach and market-oriented focus increases the likelihood of success for startups and their ability to adapt in conditions of uncertainty. It has been determined that the development of Ukraine’s startup ecosystem is characterized by gradual recovery, despite the influence of crisis factors, including military challenges, as well as maintaining a focus on innovative development and global markets. It has been found that during crisis periods, investment activity undergoes a transformation – from quantitative growth to qualitative project selection, which promotes the concentration of resources in more promising and technology-oriented startups. Prospects for further research in this area include the development of practical models for managing startups taking into account industry specifics, improving mechanisms for their financial support, as well as studying the processes of integrating Ukrainian startups into global innovation ecosystems and developing tools to support entrepreneurship in the context of the digitalization of the economy.

Keywords: startup, startup management, startup life cycle, innovation, scaling, digitalization, entrepreneurship.

Fig.: 6. Bibl.: 14.

Babych Svetlana M. – Candidate of Sciences (Economics), Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Management, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (4 Svobody Square, Kharkіv, 61022, Ukraine)
Email: babych@karazin.ua

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