“Lean start-up approach provides both small and larger companies a novel, important and useful way to organize their business development, while reducing related high risks. Traditional start-ups face a multitude of significant challenges and risks. A study by Ghosh showed that as many as 75% of all start-ups fail. Earlier research has preliminarily demonstrated that crowdsourcing has the potential to reduce the risks of failure of start-ups, as well as overcome some of the inherent challenges lean start-ups face. We argue that crowdsourcing can significantly improve the leanness and agility of start-ups’ business functions.”

Please read the full Letter from Academia by Pia Erkinheimo, Jari Jussila and Hannu Kärkkäinen at the Journal of Innovation Management Summer Issue.