Corporate-startup collaboration: A managerial decision-making framework based on a systematic literature review

Although various models of corporate-startup collaboration have been identified, it remains unclear how corporate managers should select the most suitable ones. The purpose of this study is to systematically identify, organize, and synthesize the relevant literature on corporate-startup collaborative innovation and, subsequently, to develop an integrative framework that helps differentiate individual models and provides criteria for choosing the ideal one. This study also reveals that new models emerge from established modes, and intermediaries, such as third-party organizations, play an essential role in facilitating innovation between corporates and startups. First, we contribute to the literature by identifying nine distinct models of corporate-startup collaboration and categorizing them by equity ownership and startup stage. Second, we propose a holistic framework with seven selection criteria that managers can employ to evaluate different forms of collaboration and to choose the most suitable ones.