NAVIGATING THE “VALLEY OF DEATH” AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON RESILIENCE AND PIVOTING STRATEGIES IN EARLY-STAGE SOCIAL START-UPS
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Pivoting strategies, Resilience, Valley of Death
Abstract
Early-stage social start-ups often face significant challenges as they navigate the “Valley of Death,” a critical phase where financial instability, market uncertainties, and operational difficulties frequently lead to failure. Resilience and pivoting are crucial strategies that can enable these ventures to survive and thrive during this challenging period. This study explores the resilience and pivoting strategies employed by social start-ups in their early stages, focusing on how these strategies contribute to overcoming obstacles and ensuring long-term sustainability. The primary aim is to empirically assess the relationship between resilience, pivoting, and the survival of early-stage social start-ups. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative interviews with 20 social entrepreneurs and quantitative surveys to gather data on pivoting decisions, resilience-building practices, and their impact on business success. The findings indicate that 62% of the start-ups pivoted their business models, with a significant correlation between pivoting strategies and increased revenue and sustainability. Resilient start-ups that diversified their funding sources and strengthened community networks demonstrated a higher likelihood of surviving the “Valley of Death.” The study concludes that resilience and pivoting are essential strategies for early-stage social start-ups to overcome financial and operational challenges. Social entrepreneurs must adopt flexible, adaptive approaches to ensure the sustainability of their ventures. This research contributes to the literature on social entrepreneurship by providing a deeper understanding of resilience and pivoting in the context of social start-ups.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jeroen de Vries, Jennifer Taylor, Robert Harris
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