Corporate Ecosystem Start-Ups: An Organizational Approach for Successfully Scaling Data Ecosystems

The transition to cooperative, data-driven ecosystems is reshaping value creation in industries, driven by digital technologies. This paper examines the challenges and opportunities of scaling such ecosystems, focusing on a case study of a data-based solution for intralogistics developed by an industrial service provider in collaboration with ecosystem partners. The study highlights the limitations of established approaches in addressing joint governance, shared value creation, and trust essential for ecosystem success. To bridge this gap, the Corporate Ecosystem Start-Up (CESU) approach is proposed – a novel business innovation approach tailored to the unique demands of scaling solutions in data ecosystems. Drawing on insights from the practical case, the CESU approach is designed and evaluated using the criteria scope of action, risk and ownership, resources, and market access. Strategies to overcome organizational barriers and ensure alignment are described, providing a pathway to ecosystem growth. This research advances the understanding of scaling data ecosystems.