The Role of Web Sites and E-Commerce in the Development of Global Start-Ups

Abstract

This chapter introduces the role of Web sites and e-commerce in the development and growth of global higher education start-ups. The extant concepts, research, and experiences the chapter builds on is the literature concerning e-commerce and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with published research on global start-ups. It argues that the key results, evidence, and experience, from the empirical case study research, highlight clear and precise reasons for the development of Web sites and e-commerce by the global start-ups. The limitations of the results are that they report early stage development of Web sites and e-commerce by global start-ups. The authors plan to undertake “follow-up” interviews in future years to develop a longitudinal study. Furthermore, there are important implications of the study for entrepreneurs, policy makers, practitioners, researchers, and educators for the specific field of e-commerce developments for global start-ups.