Date of Conferral

10-26-2025

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Dr. Sandra Mohabir-McKinley

Abstract

The inability of many Nigerian startups to sustain operations beyond their first five years remains a critical challenge for startup leaders. Startup leaders who lack effective strategies and capabilities to outperform competitors risk extinction within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) and Porter’s five forces (P5F) framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies employed by business incubator managers to enhance sustainable competitive advantage for Nigerian startups. The participants included six business incubator managers in Nigeria who had successfully implemented strategies that supported the survival and growth of startups beyond five years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of publicly accessible documents. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: (a) market identification for strategic positioning, (b) enhancing business support for capacity building, (c) resource allocation for ecosystem integration, (d) technology adoption for competitive advantage, (e) sustaining long-term competitiveness, and (f) strategic adjustment to overcome challenges. A key recommendation that emerged from this study was the importance of establishing more regional support hubs to enhance startup resilience and competitiveness. The implications for positive social change include the potential for entrepreneurship support organizations to enhance startup sustainability and competitiveness through the implementation of effective incubation practices that foster innovation, expand employment opportunities, and stimulate sustained economic growth within Nigerian communities.

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