<p>In the contemporary era of digitalisation and globalisation, technology plays a pivotal role in enabling high-tech startups&#xa0;to gain competitive advantages. Flexible learning prioritises time-based and spatial flexibility, which has become prominent in the use of new technologies. This study aims to identify critical success factors (CSFs), develop a hierarchical structural model, and investigate the interconnections among these factors that are significant for the performance of high-tech startups. The literature highlights several CSFs for high-tech startups. Thus, systematically bridging these factors can help improve these firms’ performance. In this study, we develop a hierarchical structural framework for high-tech startup performance using modified total interpretive structural modelling (M-TISM). Using M-TISM, the concept of "argumentation" is added to each link in the model to interpret the relationships among the CSFs. We also validate the model based on expert opinions. The results show that six CSFs significantly affect high-tech startup performance: flexible learning, experience, new product development, innovation, performance, and absorptive capacity. This study also shows that innovation and new product development directly impact high-tech startup performance. The developed model contributes to the existing high-tech startup literature and entrepreneurship management research by emphasising the CSFs that impact high-tech startup performance.</p>