The master thesis “Market Entry and Growth Strategies of Scaleups in Capital-intensive Industries” investigates what different market entry and growth strategies for scaleups in capital-intensive industries exist. Here is the abstract:

Scaleups, delineated by their swift growth trajectory, substantially influence innovation, economic advancement, and competitive prowess. Nevertheless, the transformation into a mature enterprise is intricate for those young firms, given the agility exhibited during this corporate phase, necessitating the adept execution of an appropriate market entry and growth strategy. Within capital-intensive industries in the DACH region, limited research is evident about the growth of youthful enterprises. This master thesis aims to investigate what different market entry and growth strategies for scaleups in capital-intensive industries exist. Additionally, it investigates success factors crucial for the effective execution of those strategies and explores the implications of industry characteristics for scaleups. The objective is to provide an extensive overview of the definition of a scaleup, scaling, and the appropriate market entry and growth strategies applied by those companies in capital-intensive industries in the DACH region. The appropriately chosen research approach is based on the research design of building theory from cases. It includes a structured review of academic and grey literature and twelve semi-structured interviews with experts on senior management positions. Participants from twelve scaleups providing services in the automotive, electricity and manufacturing industries were interviewed. An additional interview was conducted with an expert from the VC industry. Consequently, this thesis has systematically classified four distinct growth strategies that set themselves apart through variations in the product offering and geographical reach of a scaleup. The distinctions arising from operating as a startup versus a scaleup, navigating the European or US market landscape, and selecting between software or hardware business models necessitate careful acknowledgement. These considerations serve as indispensable guidance for potent growth strategies. The industries examined have shown encouraging trends despite the enduring challenges scaleups face in securing venture funding and accessing suitable human resources. These trends encompass the expansion of e-mobility services, a growing integration of value chains, and a conducive political environment that supports subsidies.