Overcoming the challenges of cooperative startups businesses: insights from a bibliometric network analysis

In recent decades, advances in technology have led to the adaptation of business models to the connected era. This has resulted in the modification of the goals of both startup and cooperative models, leading to the emergence of a new hybrid business model combining the two and known as cooperative startups. The present study aims to investigate the evolution, functioning and characteristics of cooperative startups as a potential research area that may be of future relevance due to its potential growth. To this end, a bibliometric analysis using Web of Sciences academic database and VOSViewer software is conducted to identify specific characteristics, opportunities, and challenges that cooperative startups should understand in order to achieve business success. In this regard, a co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling and keyword concurrency analysis are computed to understand the literature published in this research field to date. The findings of this analysis contribute to the creation of knowledge on cooperative startups identifying 19 future research questions linked to 5 research categories in cooperatives startups: strategy, members of the team, performance, finance and economy and innovation. The results provide insights on the challenges and characteristics of this new business model that is characterized by the management of investments and economy democracy while boosting innovation and handling competence. Finally, theoretical and practical implications are presented.