The document introduces The Start-up Context Map, a taxonomy created to categorize the engineering practices, goals, and environmental factors of start-ups. It aims to address gaps in understanding challenges start-ups face and practices they need by providing a fine-grained breakdown of start-up engineering contexts. The map serves as a repository for systematizing knowledge from research and experience reports in order to support product engineering in start-ups and facilitate the transfer of research results. Contributions to the map are encouraged to expand and refine it.

1. The Start-up Context Map
Eriks Klotins, Michael Unterkalmsteiner, Tony Gorschek

2. If only 1% of all start-up failures could be
attributed to inadequacies in software
engineering that still is $ 4.3 billion of
investment capital wasted in 2015 alone1
1. Start-up ecosystem report EU and US, 2015, available at http://startup-ecosystem.compass.co/ser2015/

3. Use of well understood software
engineering practices in an organized
way could help more start-ups to succeed
(or not to fail)

4. Recent
publications on
engineering in
start-ups

5. Mostly by
members of
this network
Recent
publications on
engineering in
start-ups

6. We do not know what
specific
engineering challenges
start-ups face

7. We do not know what
specific
engineering challenges
start-ups face
We do not know
what specific
engineering
practices start-ups
need

8. We do not know what
specific
engineering challenges
start-ups face
We do not know what
practices from other
organizations may be
useful in start-ups
We do not know
what specific
engineering
practices start-ups
need

9. We do not know what
specific
engineering challenges
start-ups face
We do not know what
practices from other
organizations may be
useful in start-ups
We do not know
what specific
engineering
practices start-ups
need
We do not know
to where
to start

10. To study software engineering practices in
start-ups we need to understand the
engineering context in start-ups first

11. We need a fine
grained
categorization
of engineering
context in start-
ups!
To focus our further research
To support software-intensive
product engineering in start-ups
To create a
body of knowledge
To facilitate transfer of
research results
To systematize
knowledge
To expose gaps in
our understanding

12. The Start-up Context Map
A taxonomy of engineering practices,
goals and environment factors

13. • Created by combining existing context models, brainstorming and
extensive literature search.
• Contains more than 300 factors with detailed descriptions, examples,
and references to related work.
• Accessible online for collaboration and further development
The Start-up Context Map

14. http://startupcontextmap.org

15. 4Use
scenarios

16. Use scenario
#1
Checklist
The map provides scope and fine grained breakdown of engineering
activities in startups. For example, good practices in requirements
engineering and testing. It is possible to select those that are most likely
relevant for a specific startup
“As a researcher I can use the map to focus my
research on specific areas.”
“As a researcher I want to characterize context my study
so that my results can be safely transferred and
adopted”
“As a technical founder of a start-up I want to have an
overview of what important aspects of engineering I
must consider so I do not miss anything important”

17. Use scenario
#2
Experience
database
The map is a repository of systematized start-up experience
reports containing detailed descriptions of actual start-ups and
practices they use
“As a researcher I want to have
access to data characterizing
real challenges in start-ups”
“As a founder of a start-up I
want to share my experiences
with the community so that
other start-ups can learn from
my start-up”

18. Use scenario
#3
Transfer of
research results
The map is a repository categorizing state-of-the-art research on
product engineering in start-ups
“As a researcher what my
results to be tested and
adapted by start-ups so that my
work helps to create new and
innovative products.”
“As a founder of a start-up I
want to know what new
practices could be useful to my
start-up so that I can build a
better product and increase my
chances of success”

19. Use scenario
#4
Decision
support
Data from actual companies allow to identify differences
between start-ups and suggest better context-specific practices.
Practices can be bundled together creating patterns to address
common challenges in start-ups.
“As a founder of a start-up I
want to how similar companies
have successfully addressed
common challenges, such as
uncertainty of what features
users want, so that I can focus
on more specific tasks”

20. The Start-up
Context map
Highlights gaps for
further research
Supports software-intensive
product engineering in start-ups
Backbone for a
body of knowledge
Facilitates transfer of
research results
Systematizes
knowledgeSystematizes
experience reports

21. The Start-up Context Map is the central idea
for a larger community of start-up
researchers, practitioners and experts

22. Mechanisms of participation
• Contribute to the map by refining it
• Invite others to contribute
• Expand the map by adding start-up case reports (coming soon)
• Participate in workshops and interviews (more info will follow)
• Help to spread surveys (more info will follow)

23. What is in there for me?
 Demonstrate your knowledge to a wider community of
researchers and start-ups
 Be recognized as one of the first contributors to the start-up
body of knowledge
 Co-author publications

24. Thank you!
Q & A
eriks.klotins@bth.se
http://startupcontextmap.org