Scaffolding artifact in entrepreneurship: A design science approach

Entrepreneurship is increasingly understood as a design-oriented process in which individuals and teams construct opportunities and navigate uncertainty through the iterative use of artifacts. This paper introduces scaffolding artifacts (SAFs) as a distinct and under-theorized class of entrepreneurial tools that provide temporary, structured support for decision-making, learning, and venture development. Drawing on Design Science Research (DSR), SAFs are conceptualized as theory-informed, generalizable frameworks or methods that, when instantiated in specific contexts, serve as cognitive and procedural supports to reduce complexity, enhance agency, and guide entrepreneurial action. SAFs are differentiated from venturing artifacts (VAFs) by their function: while VAFs represent concrete outputs of entrepreneurial work (e.g., product versions, landing pages), SAFs scaffold the venture-creation process itself without predetermining outcomes. This paper contributes to construct clarity by extending scaffolding theory from pedagogic psychology into entrepreneurship, introducing SAFs as adaptive supports that guide entrepreneurial cognition and action. It offers a unified definition of SAFs, distinguishes them from VAFs, applies the type–token distinction to explain contextual instantiation, and uses Design Science Research to frame their intentional development. Well-known tools such as the Business Model Canvas, Design Thinking, and the van Westendorp price sensitivity meter are discussed as exemplars of SAFs in practice. To support design and validation, the paper introduces the Design Science Canvas, an operational framework that structures the iterative development and empirical evaluation of SAFs. As digitalization and AI reshape entrepreneurial ecosystems, the study highlights the potential and risks of algorithmic SAFs, emphasizing the importance of human-centered, adaptive use. By advancing the theoretical foundations and methodological pathways for developing SAFs, this study bridges entrepreneurship research and design practice. It offers actionable insights for scholars, educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs seeking to foster resilient, reflective, and opportunity-driven venture creation.