Start-up locations – What locational qualities do start-up founders value?

Abstract

The choice of location for a start-up can significantly impact its success, and founders must carefully consider various factors when making this decision. However, there has been limited research on the location preferences of start-up founders. This empirical works aims to fill this gap by exploring the specific qualities that start-up founders in the Helsinki region value when deciding where to locate their businesses. Through a best-worst scaling experiment, I gather data about start-up founders’ preferences over 25 location attributes. My findings serve as a starting point for further research, such as a choice-based quasi-experiment, which could provide valuable insights for governments looking to create effective start-up policies. In addition to providing a foundation for future studies, I present descriptive findings, including respondent characteristics, attribute rankings, and differences between groups. My descriptive results show that the preferences of founders are generally aligned with the actual location decisions of start-ups. One notable exception is the high value placed on an English-speaking business ecosystem. I also find that male founders tend to prioritize the security of a society, while female founders place a higher value on the presence of network connections.