Startups operate in unique organizational contexts characterized by resource constraints, rapid growth, uncertainty, and dynamic change. These distinctive features shape how startups attract, develop, and retain talent, creating workforce challenges and opportunities that differ significantly from established organizations.
The startup workforce represents a critical yet understudied area of organizational research. While entrepreneurship literature has traditionally focused on founders and venture capital, the employees who join startups and contribute to their success deserve greater scholarly attention. Understanding startup employment practices, workforce composition, and employee experiences provides important insights into contemporary work arrangements and organizational dynamics.
This special issue seeks papers that examine all aspects of the startup workforce, including recruitment strategies, retention mechanisms, organizational culture, compensation approaches, employee well-being, team dynamics, diversity considerations, and the experiences of workers in early-stage ventures. We welcome empirical studies, theoretical contributions, and practical insights that advance our knowledge of how startups build and manage their human capital.
Research on startup workforces has implications for multiple stakeholder groups including startup founders and managers seeking to build effective teams, employees considering careers in startups, policymakers designing support for entrepreneurial ecosystems, and scholars interested in organizational behavior and human resource management in non-traditional contexts.