WHAT DO I GET FROM THIS? A STUDY ON THE BENEFITS OF RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED IN AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM

Entrepreneurial Ecosystems have gained increasing prominence on research agendas around the world in recent years, especially since 2017, reflecting a significant increase in the volume of studies dedicated to the subject in the academic community. Despite this progress, the dynamics that make up the relationships between the actors that make up these ecosystems remain little explored and need further theoretical and practical study. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify the benefits and/or gains obtained by startups from the relationships established with universities and other startups in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state of Sergipe. Methodologically, this study is qualitative in nature, adopting an exploratory and descriptive approach to understand the existence or otherwise of benefits arising from the relationships built by the actors studied in the Sergipe Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. Methodologically, this study is qualitative in nature, adopting an exploratory and descriptive approach to understand the existence or not of benefits arising from the relationships built by the actors studied in the Sergipe Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. It uses the basic qualitative study strategy (Merriam, 1998) and content analysis (Bardin, 2016) to interpret the data. Twenty-two interviews were conducted, 15 with startup entrepreneurs and 7 with university professionals, ensuring a strategic and in-depth view of the topic. The results revealed the existence of clear and concrete benefits provided by relationships within this environment. Both groups analyzed - startups and universities - reported perceived gains, highlighting the relevance of these connections. However, it was found that relationships between startups are significantly more productive and advantageous when compared to interactions between startups and universities, suggesting greater synergy and collaborative impact between these companies.