Designing a Creative Heritage for a Deep-Tech Start-Up in the Scale-Up Phase

Louise Taupin; Pascal Le Masson; Blanche Segrestin

doi:10.37725/mgmt.2024.8889

Louise Taupin Centre de Gestion Scientifique (CGS), Institut Interdisciplinaire de l’innovation (i3), Paris, France
Pascal Le Masson Centre de Gestion Scientifique (CGS), Institut Interdisciplinaire de l’innovation (i3), Paris, France
Blanche Segrestin Centre de Gestion Scientifique (CGS), Institut Interdisciplinaire de l’innovation (i3), Paris, France

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37725/mgmt.2024.8889

Keywords: Deep-tech start-up, Scale-up, Creative heritage, Design, Business model

Abstract

The prospect of solving ‘grand challenges’ through technological innovation justifies the interest shown in deep-tech start-ups. These companies develop technological solutions, which they then seek to implement on a massive scale during their scale-up phase. They nevertheless encounter difficulties at this stage, which starts with the validation of their business model. This research supplements the results reported in the literature on business models in the scale-up phase, with a design-oriented approach, which is better suited to the case of technology companies. Based on intervention research carried out in an urban agriculture deep-tech start-up, an axiomatic design tool is used to highlight the importance of distinguishing between the validation of elements of the business model and their preservation. This ensures that the deep-tech start-up’s subsequent developments are aligned with the goals of resolving major challenges.

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Author Biographies

Louise Taupin, Centre de Gestion Scientifique (CGS), Institut Interdisciplinaire de l’innovation (i3), Paris, France

Louise Taupin has a PhD in management sciences from Mines Paris – PSL, completed at the Centre de gestion scientifique-i3 in partnership with Bpifrance, and an engineering degree from CentraleSupélec. She is responsible for operational performance at M2i Group.

Pascal Le Masson, Centre de Gestion Scientifique (CGS), Institut Interdisciplinaire de l’innovation (i3), Paris, France

Pascal Le Masson is professor at Mines Paris – PSL, chair of Theory and Methods of Innovative Design, member of the Centre de gestion scientifique-i3 and co-director of the Design Engineering option. His work on design theory and innovation management has led to numerous scientific publications and has been regularly awarded prizes. He is a member of several scientific councils for companies and public institutions. He is co-director of the Design Society’s Special Interest Group on design theory.

Blanche Segrestin, Centre de Gestion Scientifique (CGS), Institut Interdisciplinaire de l’innovation (i3), Paris, France

Blanche Segrestin is a professor at Mines Paris – PSL and a member of the Centre de gestion scientifique-i3. Her research focuses on a new theory of the firm based on collective capacity for innovation and its implications for modes of governance and law. In 2015, she created the chair in Corporate Theory, Governance Models and Collective Creation. The research program conducted there contributed in 2019 to the introduction of the mission company in law. She is a member of the scientific council of the Community of Mission-driven Companies.

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