The Impact of Cloud Computing on Entrepreneurship and Start-ups : Case of Greece

• Main Author: Gkikas, Dimitrios
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: KTH, Entreprenörskap och Innovation 2014
• Subjects: Cloud Computing; Entrepreneurship; Startups
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-147767

The significant advances of technology in the ICT sector the last decades with the most important the improvements on the internet services and virtualization techniques have led to the emergence of several computing paradigms, with the most recent cloud computing. There are several major international cloud service providers which deliver a variety of cloud services and solutions to individuals or companies. As a result, more and more companies are moving to the cloud leading to a growth of cloud services market. Cloud technologies can offer various benefits to organizations but at the same time there are risks and challenges associated with this term. This study examines the benefits of cloud computing on entrepreneurship and startup companies focusing in a specific country, Greece. Greece is inside a long period of economic crisis and access to financing is one on the most problematic factors for doing business. However, the last three years there is a huge increase in the number of startup companies and at the same time an increase in investments in Greek startups. In order to estimate the adoption of cloud computing from Greek startup companies and the potential benefits it may offer to Greek entrepreneurs an online survey was conducted. The analysis of the primary data indicates that Greek entrepreneurs are likely to use cloud computing and they are aware of its potential benefits and risks. Based on the findings of this study, there are serious indications that cloud computing has played a catalytic role in this recent increase of the entrepreneurial activity in Greece, offering multiple benefits to Greek entrepreneurs who are struggling to be more competitive, increase the value of their products and services and decrease costs.