Formation of Strategies for the Development of Startup Ecosystems as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Entrepreneurship

The goal of this paper is the formation of strategies for the development of startup ecosystems in the country based on clustering as a prerequisite for sustainable entrepreneurship. The analysis of startup ecosystems was based on the data presented in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022 from StartupBlink. This allowed us to form a sample of 100 countries. Two criteria were chosen for cluster formation: Total Score, which demonstrates an overall position in the ranking, and Rank Change (from 2021), which demonstrates the direction of movement of the ecosystem (growth or decline). As a result of clustering, homogeneous groups of countries have been formed that have similar characteristics of startup ecosystems and, therefore, common approaches to further development, which allows the form of strategies for developing startup ecosystems of countries. Four homogeneous clusters of startup ecosystems of countries have been formed by the Startup Blink rating based on cluster analysis using the k-medium method, and their characteristics are given. The first cluster includes only the United States, with a maximum Total Score of 195.37. The second cluster includes 14 countries; with a Total Score of 52.555 (United Kingdom) to 15.914 (Ireland) and minor positive +3 (Singapore) and negative −4 (Switzerland) changes in rank, including without rank changes. The third cluster includes 46 countries; with a Total Score of 0.2600–14.4810 and mostly negative Rank Change changes (maximum −16 positions). The fourth cluster includes 35 countries characterized by: a Total Score level of 0.2750–14.193 and positive Rank Change changes from 1 to 18. Thus, the countries of the first cluster should apply the strategy of absolute leader, generating constant growth and rupture with other countries; the countries of the second cluster—a leadership retention strategy; the countries of the third cluster choose a strategy for correcting (taking into account) errors in order to change the negative value of Rank Change to positive; It is advisable for the countries of the fourth cluster to choose a strategy for gradual growth and demonstrate annual positive growth. Four types of strategy (absolute leader, leadership retention, mistake accounting, gradual growth) have been identified, which are based on four defined clusters and are appropriate for cluster countries to use. The use of strategies will improve the country's startup ecosystem, which will contribute to the sustainability of entrepreneurship.