The transition process in Boatjump: past, present and future

Abstract

[EN] Literature in entrepreneurship has detected different stages in the evolution of a startup, from the idea that was the base for a new firm to the point in which the firm reaches its maturity. Also, some indications have been stated about which elements should be considered as important in every stage. However, there are few works that can help entrepreneurs to understand how to manage those elements and why they are important in every stage along the cycle. This might explain why entrepreneurs decide to locate in an accelerator or other spaces that support them, because they can learn from other entrepreneurs and obtain advice from their previous experience. Therefore, this master thesis (TFM) uses the case study of a firm, Boatjump, to research how this startup progressed through the different stages until the transition one, being this stage the centre of this project. Also, some ideas to help the company to prepare its next stage of scaling up are considered. All this considered, the main objective of this TFM is to analyse the transition process of Boatjump, a five-year-old company in the sector of boat charter. To reach this objective, different specific objectives have been set: OBJ1. Understanding the stages that entrepreneurship literature has given about the life cycle of startups, as well as the elements most important in each stage. OBJ2. Identifying the opinion of Lanzadera entrepreneurs about the steps indicated in the literature and the most important challenges according to their experience. OBJ3. Analyse the stages prior to the Boatjump transition, indicating how decisions were made and why in relation to the most important elements in each stage. OBJ4. Analyze the transition stage of Boatjump, researching every important element by stage and what decisions were made and why. OBJ5. Analyze options that can help the company in its decisions regarding the escalation stage. This project can be also a guide for other entrepreneurships who need to understand the challenges they will face in every stage of the cycle. Also, it might be an important document for staff in Boatjump as it collects information about all the changes the firm made during the last years and the reasons to make those changes.