Enterprise Futures Lab, in collaboration with Global SME News and TDW Productions & Publishing, invites you to contribute to the landmark edited volume Startups & Family Firms: Cross-Learning for Growth and Resilience.
This volume explores the mutual lessons between tech-driven startups and enduring family-owned businesses/SMEs. Evidence and institutional data indicate that a significant portion of startups fail within their initial years, even when supported by funding, incubators, accelerators, and professional networks—reflecting both internal challenges and external constraints. By contrast, many family enterprises and SMEs sustain themselves for generations.
This book asks: What can each learn from the other to build ventures that endure? Contributors are encouraged to examine:
- Economic impact: Employment and wealth-creation contributions of startups versus SMEs; assessment of value beyond “startup hype.”
- Social and workplace dimensions: Workplace culture, mental health pressures, long working hours, and labor practices in light of ILO standards.
- Policy and ecosystem context: Role of national frameworks, investor networks, and entrepreneurial ecosystems; incentives for quick exits versus sustainable growth.
Themes and Topics for Contributions
- Startup Challenges and Failures – Market misalignment, financial and management issues, product-market fit, scaling challenges; reflections on startup hype; analysis of employment contributions.
- Lessons from Family-Owned Businesses and SMEs – Longevity, frugality, trust-based relationships, succession planning, community engagement; sustainable practices balancing profitability and societal impact.
- Lessons for Traditional Businesses from Startups – Digital adoption, rapid innovation, global scaling, agile decision-making; effects of rapid financial gain culture on employee wellbeing, mental health, and work-life balance; comparative analysis referencing ILO and international standards.
- Cross-Learning and Universal Principles – Timeless principles (cash flow, customer focus, resilience); frameworks for collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge transfer; comparative case studies on mutual learning and social outcomes.
- Broader Reflections on Entrepreneurship and Policy – Social and ethical implications; alignment with national and international commitments; balancing quick financial gains versus long-term societal and economic value.
Types of Contributions
- Articles / Thought-Leadership Essays: 900–1,500 words
- Research Articles: up to 2,500 words (APA style)
- Case Studies: 1,000–2,000 words
- Profiles: 800–1,200 words
Contributor Profile
Academics, researchers, startup founders, SME leaders, family business owners, policy experts, and professionals engaged in entrepreneurial ecosystems from diverse regions, including Africa, North & South America, Eastern Europe, MENA/GCC, Asia, Europe, BRICS countries, and beyond.
Submission Guidelines
- Abstract: 200 words outlining topic, format, and key arguments
- Submission Deadline: 15 November 2025
- Author Bio: 100–150 words with affiliation and contact details
- Formatting: 12-point Garamond, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, left-aligned; APA 7th edition references
- Email: gsmenews.editor@gmail.com / tdw.anthologysubmissions@gmail.com
- WhatsApp/Call: +91-8848885326
- Subject Line: “Contribution: Lessons for Startups and SMEs”
Publishers and Partners
This landmark volume is being published by Global SME News and Enterprise Futures Lab, in collaboration with TDW Productions & Publishing, as a global resource on the cross-learning between startups and family-owned businesses/SMEs.