Title: Approaching indirectly to complementors and taking neutral position in platform: exploratory research on the progression from a start-up to a platform leader

Authors: Yusuke Hoshino; Yoshiyuki Matsumura

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, Musashino University, Japan ' Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan

Abstract: How does a small start-up become a platform leader from the viewpoint of inducing complementors? Previous researches on platform management seem to focus on platform design and the relationship between complementors and platform leaders. However, samples used in these researches are large, established leaders, and strategies for start-ups have not been studied in detail. From single case studies about the progression of a Japanese platform leader, we found that collaborations with organisations at the centre of networks are useful because: 1) these collaborations provide start-ups paths to complementors; 2) these collaborations enhance the trustworthiness of start-ups; 3) the higher the number of collaborations, the more neutral the position enjoyed by platform leaders, even as start-ups.

Keywords: start-up; entrepreneur; platform management; platform leader; complementor; inter-organisational relationship; neutrality; industry broker; business-to-business electronic marketplace.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2018.095906

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2018 Vol.35 No.3, pp.266 - 281

Received: 20 Oct 2016
Accepted: 19 Jun 2017
Published online: 26 Oct 2018 *

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