Startupové ekosystémy v Pobaltí

This thesis examines the startup ecosystems of the Baltic states—Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia—with a focus on identifying their strengths and weaknesses and comparing the key elements that influence the creation and development of startups. The theoretical part defines the concepts of startups and startup ecosystems and analyzes the roles of essential actors, including founders, accelerators, incubators, educational institutions, public administration, and investors. It also summarizes global trends and existing research related to startup development in the Baltic region. The empirical part is based on a mixed-method approach using semi-structured interviews with startup founders, providing both quantitative and qualitative insights into their experiences. The findings indicate that all three Baltic states demonstrate several strengths, such as the presence of serial entrepreneurs, a high tolerance for entrepreneurial failure, and strong technical education. Estonia confirms its status as the regional leader thanks to high-quality public support and strong attractiveness to foreign investors. Lithuania stands out for the exceptional quality of its accelerator programs and for the high activity of angel investors. Latvia shows potential in terms of entrepreneurial culture but lags behind in capital availability, graduate readiness, and the maturity of startup infrastructure. Key weaknesses across the region include the impact of the geopolitical situation, particularly Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which has reduced the availability of talent and discouraged foreign specialists from relocating to the Baltic states. Startups also report limited access to capital at early and later development stages. Although the research faces limitations—such as a small number of respondents and varying stages of startup development—it offers valuable insights into the dynamics of startup ecosystems in the Baltic region and highlights directions for future research.