๐ Do Startups Have an Edge Over Established Companies in Innovation?
๐ Understanding the Topicโs Importance
Startups and established companies represent two ends of the innovation spectrum. For B-school aspirants, exploring this topic provides valuable insights into entrepreneurial leadership, corporate strategy, and the dynamics of innovation.
๐ Effective Planning and Writing
- ๐ Time Allocation:
- ๐ Planning: 5 minutes
- โ๏ธ Writing: 20 minutes
- ๐ Review: 5 minutes
๐ Introduction Techniques for Essays
- โ๏ธ Contrast: “While startups thrive on agility, their survival rate remains low compared to established firms investing billions in R&D.”
- ๐ Timeline: “From the emergence of Silicon Valley to the rise of innovation labs in MNCs, the innovation narrative continues to evolve.”
๐ Structuring the Essay Body
- Achievements:
- โจ Highlight disruptive startups such as Uber, which have transformed industries.
- ๐ข Recognize innovative established firms like IBM, known for scalable R&D initiatives.
- Challenges:
- โ ๏ธ Compare the high failure rate of startups with corporate inertia in adopting new innovations.
- Future Outlook:
- ๐ Propose the creation of collaborative ecosystems where startups and established firms drive joint innovation.
๐ Analyzing Successes and Shortcomings
- ๐ Achievements: Startups excel in disruptive change; corporations facilitate scalable innovation.
- โ ๏ธ Challenges: Startups face funding and scaling risks, while corporations struggle with adaptability and bureaucratic inertia.
๐ก Recommendations for Sustainable Progress
- ๐ง Establish innovation hubs that connect startups with corporations for collaborative innovation.
- ๐ธ Encourage venture capital-backed scaling for startups to ensure their ideas can grow effectively.
๐ Sample Short Essays
- โ๏ธ Balanced Perspective: “Startups excel in agility, leading to groundbreaking innovations. However, established companies possess the resources to scale these innovations globally. A synergy between the two is the ideal path forward.”
- ๐ Solution-Oriented: “Startups and established firms must collaborate through innovation hubs to address each otherโs limitations, ensuring mutual success in a competitive market.”
- ๐ Global Comparison: “While Silicon Valleyโs startups lead in disruption, Germanyโs established firms excel in R&D scalability. The future lies in integrating these approaches for sustained innovation.”

