Entrepreneurial knowledge management model: a panacea for start-up failures in emerging markets

Knowledge is a very crucial and inevitable resource for new ventures to sustain competitive advantage. In this technology-driven dynamic world, the process of knowledge management of start-ups is not efficient enough to meet the competitive demands existing in the market. Huge differences exist between the knowledge management activities between the established firms and new firms. The process of knowledge management in start-ups is a relatively new and least explored area in entrepreneurship. The primary objective is to study the knowledge management process for start-ups through a qualitative approach; the secondary objective is to offer suggestions for knowledge acquisition and improving knowledge management in the start-ups; and the tertiary objective is to develop a model for effective knowledge management process for gaining sustainable competitive advantage. This paper is based on grounded theory. The authors of this study have collected data from ten entrepreneurs running start-ups in Chennai, an emerging market. NVivo 12 Plus qualitative software is used for analysing the data collected through the interview schedule. An entrepreneurial knowledge management model based on the insights and analysis from the interview schedule was developed, and suggestions were given regarding entrepreneurial knowledge management for start-ups.