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Purpose
This study aims to explore the potential of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) in the underexplored sector of small and medium-sized web-based businesses, addressing the succession crisis in industrialized nations and offering insights into the digital ETA landscape.
Design/methodology/approach
The research uses a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with 19 established website owners from diverse backgrounds and industries. The study investigates their business models, selling motivations and characteristics to provide insights for potential buyers in the digital ETA space.
Findings
Web-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) present unique opportunities for ETA, characterized by lower initial investment, higher scalability and diverse revenue streams. Key considerations for buyers include understanding seller motivations, evaluating niche focus and assessing the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence on content creation and search engine optimization. The findings also highlight the importance of authenticity and user engagement in maintaining website value.
Practical implications
The findings offer valuable insights for entrepreneurs considering ETA in the digital space, highlighting critical factors for success, potential risks and mitigation strategies in acquiring web-based businesses.
Originality/value
This paper bridges a significant gap in ETA literature by focusing on web-based SMEs, which have previously been overlooked despite their growing importance in the digital economy. It provides a comprehensive analysis of relevant factors when evaluating web-based businesses in the context of ETA, particularly in light of technological advancements and changing online landscapes.
Entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) is gaining momentum as a viable alternative to starting a company on one’s own. However, despite its growing practical relevance, scholarly work about ETA is scarce and has not been comprehensively reviewed. To address this gap, we conduct a systematic review of entrepreneurship literature by identifying studies that examine ETA and its outcomes. Our review methodology was developed based on established guidelines for systematic reviews and protocols, which informed our scoping review process and analytical approach. Searches were conducted on three electronic databases, and inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. For inclusion, studies must examine an entrepreneurial perspective in buying into a company. Quantitative and qualitative data were extracted for thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. ETA is an entrepreneurship model with growing appeal and relevance in practice but limited academic evidence. While there is extensive research on leveraged buyouts and family-external succession, evidence specifically on ETA is still lacking. In particular, knowledge about the entrepreneurial intent that makes ETA unique is absent from the evidence base. As ETA gains momentum, entrepreneurs need to understand the unique properties, the various approaches, and the upsides and eventual downsides of acquiring a business instead of starting one from scratch. The present work may serve as a starting point for future research as we scope existing evidence on the archetype of ETA and identify a definition, available models, and a process archetype.
The data-creativity nexus: shaping the future of marketing in the age of artificial intelligence
(2023)
This study investigates the impact of artificial intelligence on marketing. Based on an extensive dataset of interviews with marketing executives, the study assesses current practices and argues that the future of marketing is inextricably linked to the effective integration of data and creativity. Thus, this research sheds light on this under-explored nexus.
Die jüngsten Beschlüsse des EZB-Rats führen dazu, dass risikolose Zinssätze nunmehr endgültig auch in der praktischen Anwendung negativ sein werden. Als Konsequenz stellt sich die Frage, wie Fair Values derivativer Finanzinstrumente zu bestimmen sind. Traditionelle Methoden, die zur Preisfindung von Standard- sowie OTC- Optionen genutzt werden, geraten mehr und mehr an die Grenzen ihrer konzeptionellen und praktischen Anwendbarkeit. Ihr unbedarfter Einsatz im veränderten Zinsumfeld kann Abschlussadressaten falsch informieren und erscheint nicht konform mit den Vorgaben von IFRS 13. Der Beitrag leitet die entsprechenden Problempunkte her, diskutiert deren praktische Implikationen und zeigt mögliche Lösungen für die Praxis auf.