Innovation Capabilities in Tech Startups: The Mediating Role of AI-Enabled Business Intelligence in Supporting SDG 9

Objectives: This study examines how technology startups in emerging markets leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and business intelligence (BI) capabilities to enhance innovation performance in support of UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Theoretical Framework: The research integrates Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities, and Knowledge-Based View theories to understand how organizations build and maintain innovation capabilities through technological integration. Method: Using structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we analyzed data from 357 Algerian technology startups, examining the mediating role of AI-enabled business intelligence in developing sustainable innovation capabilities. Results and Discussion: AI and BI integration positively influences innovation outcomes (β = 0.227, p < 0.05), with BI serving as a crucial mediator. Success depends on three key factors: systematic integration of AI-BI technologies, robust knowledge management practices, and market-specific adaptation strategies. Research Implications: The findings provide practical guidance for technology startups in emerging markets seeking to enhance their competitive advantage through AI-enabled innovation, while supporting SDG 9's target of upgrading technological capabilities. Originality/Value: This research extends innovation capability theory by incorporating the role of emerging technologies in resource-constrained environments, offering novel insights into how startups can leverage AI and BI for sustainable innovation in developing economies.