Figure 8: Perceived key challenges of current sources of energy in the agri sector based on 20 startups interviews Anatomy of PV Startups in the Agriculture Sector Startups, firms younger than 5 years of age, have contributed to about 90% of Egypt’s currently operating PV systems. It is important to understand these key players if more systems are to be brought to PV market throughs startups and future firms entering the market. The aims to demonstrate the role of startups in the market and the opportunities or challenges they face. Startups can play an important role in catalyzing clean technology adoption through new business model development, accessing new customer segment, and stimulating market level change. While large firms are constrained by their existing products, technologies, skills and organization, firms that are small and young can more easily work outside dominant paradigms. Startups are better disposed than large firms to the type of innovative entrepreneurship required to address some of the challenges of climate change. They have the flexibility to experiment and take risks, and are not discouraged by small markets of early technology adopters. The people behind the startups PV startups in Egypt come from various backgrounds. Based on the surveyed sample, PV startup founders can be classified into three main groups; fresh graduates inspired by solar energy opportunities, more experienced founders with 5 to 10 years of experience in international corporations, successful entrepreneurs who have already established mature enterprises and decided to change the line of work or venture into the emerging PV industry. In line with the Egyptian entrepreneurial scene, the founders are mostly young (25- 35 years old) with University degrees. While many fresh graduates attempt to start companies in Egypt, few of them succeed. Based on a study carried out by Cleantech Arabia in 2017 of 65 clean tech startups, gaining business and market experience in established firms before starting an entrepreneurial endeavor increases the chances of success. Interviewed startups rely on the founders in multiple activities including both managerial and technical roles to grow their firms. This lack of focus can limit the capacity of growth where decision making excessive reliance on founders create bottle necks. Startups with a team of 4-5 members usually play multiple roles in the business: managerial roles, technical input, procurement, sales, business development, and project management (). Figure 9: Roles played by founders as indicated by the 20 interviewed startups
Figure 8: Perceived key challenges of current sources of energy in the agri sector based on 20 startups interviews Anatomy of PV Startups in the Agriculture Sector Startups, firms younger than 5 years of age, have contributed to about 90% of Egypt’s currently operating PV systems. It is important to understand these key players if more systems are to be brought to PV market throughs startups and future firms entering the market. The aims to demonstrate the role of startups in the market and the opportunities or challenges they face. Startups can play an important role in catalyzing clean technology adoption through new business model development, accessing new customer segment, and stimulating market level change. While large firms are constrained by their existing products, technologies, skills and organization, firms that are small and young can more easily work outside dominant paradigms. Startups are better disposed than large firms to the type of innovative entrepreneurship required to address some of the challenges of climate change. They have the flexibility to experiment and take risks, and are not discouraged by small markets of early technology adopters. The people behind the startups PV startups in Egypt come from various backgrounds. Based on the surveyed sample, PV startup founders can be classified into three main groups; fresh graduates inspired by solar energy opportunities, more experienced founders with 5 to 10 years of experience in international corporations, successful entrepreneurs who have already established mature enterprises and decided to change the line of work or venture into the emerging PV industry. In line with the Egyptian entrepreneurial scene, the founders are mostly young (25- 35 years old) with University degrees. While many fresh graduates attempt to start companies in Egypt, few of them succeed. Based on a study carried out by Cleantech Arabia in 2017 of 65 clean tech startups, gaining business and market experience in established firms before starting an entrepreneurial endeavor increases the chances of success. Interviewed startups rely on the founders in multiple activities including both managerial and technical roles to grow their firms. This lack of focus can limit the capacity of growth where decision making excessive reliance on founders create bottle necks. Startups with a team of 4-5 members usually play multiple roles in the business: managerial roles, technical input, procurement, sales, business development, and project management (). Figure 9: Roles played by founders as indicated by the 20 interviewed startups
Baseline-Assemment-PV-Startups-in-Agriculture-Egypt.docx