Business & Management Studies

Abstract

This work analyses the variation in start-up creation across the Portuguese NUT3 regions, using data available from two different sources. In the period 2014-2017, the birth of startups is measured through notary acts of new company creation and activity start is measured through the first submission of payrolls to ministério do trabalho, solidariedade e segurança social (MTSSS).

This data is analyzed with other social and economic variables trying to ascertain environmental factors that help explain the large differences between the regions.

Particular attention is focused on measuring the so called “entrepreneurial ecosystems” (Boutillier, Carré and Levratto, 2016; Alvedalen and Boschma, 2017; Kuckertz, 2019).

Results show a huge difference between startups “dreamed” and startups actually “starting”. Data also shows a spike in dreamers in the Lisboa region, but low figures in actual starters in the regions with the most visible ecosystems (Lisboa, Porto and Braga). This can be a considered a seriously disappointing result of all the investment put into Lisboa’s ecosystem.