Strategic analysis of startup ecosystem in Iran’s agricultural sector

This study aimed to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) encountered by the Iranian agriculture startups ecosystem. The study was performed in two steps. In the first step, a list of SWOT of the agricultural startups ecosystem was identified via interviews with 15 key experts. In the second step, each of the points was ranked in the form of a structured questionnaire through a 5-point Likert scale by 50 agricultural startups actors. The findings showed that the position of the Iranian agricultural startup ecosystem is in the defensive zone. Five key strategies were identified and prioritized using the QSPM method to exit this area and improve the ecosystem situation. The proposed action plans related to the five strategies can be used as a practical guide for policy makers in agricultural startups to improve the existing ecosystem. The results could cover the lack of a comprehensive scientific and empirical study of startup ecosystem analysis, with a focus on the agricultural context, and provide a basis for further studies in this area.