Identifying the Obstacles and Challenges of Launching Startups in the Education Industry

Maryam  Mashayekhi; Khodayar  Abili; Fatemeh Narenji Thani; Seyed Rasul  Hosseini

doi:10.61838/kman.ijimob.4.2.2

Authors

Maryam Mashayekhi PhD student, Department of Educational Management and Planning, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Khodayar Abili Full Professor, Department of Educational Management and Planning, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Fatemeh Narenji Thani * Associate Professor, Department of Educational Planning and Management, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran fnarenji@ut.ac.ir

Seyed Rasul Hosseini Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Management, Shahid Chamran Campus, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijimob.4.2.2

Abstract

Objective: The present research aims to identify the obstacles and challenges encountered when launching startups in the education industry.

Methodology: This study employs an applied objective and, from the perspective of data collection, utilizes a qualitative approach with the implementation of descriptive phenomenological research methodology. The research field comprised 14 founders of successful educational startups, selected through purposeful sampling based on predefined criteria. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection until theoretical saturation was achieved. The analysis of findings was performed using Colaizzi's seven-step strategy. The validity of the qualitative findings was confirmed using Lincoln & Guba's (1985) four criteria for judgment: credibility, transferability, confirmability/neutrality, and reliability/consistency, further validated by Krippendorff's alpha.

Findings: The analysis of findings led to the identification of 176 key phrases, which were then aggregated into 60 components and categorized, culminating in the identification of seven factors including challenges and obstacles related to cultural factors, financial and economic challenges, pedagogical challenges, challenges related to government laws and policies, human capital management challenges, technical infrastructure challenges, and environmental challenges.

Conclusion: In general, the results of this study can be a practical guide for founders of educational startups to anticipate the obstacles and challenges of launching their business; thus, they can prepare themselves to face possible obstacles, challenges, and problems, and with a managed and effective performance, they can reduce threats and turn them into opportunities. Additionally, the results of this study can be a roadmap for our country's policymakers and legislators to adopt better decisions and policies, as well as to reform cumbersome laws and regulations and facilitate the process of obtaining activity licenses and legal obligations, reducing and addressing the obstacles in launching educational startups.