A procedure for managing key success factors for innovative startup projects in the context of digital transformation

The modern ecosystem for startups in Russia is dynamically developing under the influence of a wide range of government support measures. An additional incentive is provided by regional programs and strategic initiatives that generate demand for domestic innovations in priority sectors of the economy. Due to the sanctions and the withdrawal of Western brands, a product vacuum has formed in the industry in a number of areas. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for managing key success factors of innovative startup projects in the context of digital transformation aimed at the sustainability and competitiveness of small and medium-sized businesses. The study is based on the concept of an integrated approach to creating a plastic environment. The research methodology contains the big data analysis through the prism formed by the planes of innovation, monitoring, and levels of the economic system. The theoretical part of the study provides an overview of domestic and foreign sources on the innovative projects success and analyzes a number of management models for key success factors of companies. The empirical part of the study presents the results of a survey of the founders and managers of 78 Russian startups at various stages of development. The author’s methodology for managing the success factors of a startup in the process of its sustainable development has been proposed. The results of testing have been presented on the basis of the information technology company TOFEKT LLC, which is developing a mobile application in the fashion sphere. The proposed methodology can be widely used in high-tech industries due to its innovativeness and adaptability to digital transformation and dynamic changes in the business environment from the macrolevel to the microlevel, ensuring effective management of innovative projects.

1. Akbar M.A., Khan A.A., Islam N., Mahmood S. DevOps project management success factors: A decision-making framework. Softw: Pract Exper. 2024;2(54):257–280.

2. Alamandi M. Sustainable Innovation Management: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Responsibility. Sustainability. 2025;10(17):4362. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104362

3. Alexandrova T.V., Zhukovskaya S.L. On the methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of innovative projects. Bulletin of the Academy of Knowledge. 2018;1(24):33–39. (In Russian).

4. Andreev V.A. Forecasting the commercial success of Russian innovative projects. Foresight. 2010;4(4):16–25. (In Russian).

5. Antonov V.G., Samosudov M.V. How to develop an effective strategy for Russian enterprises (a new methodology for strategy development). Upravlenie / Management (Russia). 2016;4(4):33–44. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.12737/22787

6. Barseghyan N.V. Specifics of lean organization of the management structure of a petrochemical enterprise. Proceedings of the Samara Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2020;2(22):100–106. (In Russian).

7. Barseghyan N.V. Standardization of resource-saving business processes within the framework of the concept of the best available technologies. Society: politics, economics, law. 2023;12:116–123. (In Russian).

8. Bonaventura M., Ciotti V., Panzarasa P. et al. Predicting success in the worldwide start-up network. Sci Rep. 2020;10:345. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-57209-w

9. Freiberg B., Matz S. Founder Personality and Entrepreneurial Outcomes: A Large-scale Field Study of Technology Startups. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2023. Gangwani D., Zhu X. Modeling and prediction of business success: a survey. Artif Intell Rev. 2024;57:44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-023-10664-4

10. Girchuk E.A., Seliverstov Yu.I. Features of innovative projects and criteria of their success. Belgorod Economic Bulletin. 2022;4(108):74–80. (In Russian).

11. Glebov S.V., Obydennov R.S., Gracheva O.V. Ensuring the success of project activities in the implementation of the strategy of innovative development of machine-building enterprises. In: Current issues of economics, management and Innovation: Proceedings of International Scientific and Practical Conference of Scientists, Specialists, University Professors, Postgraduate Students, Students, Nizhny Novgorod, November 23, 2023. Nizhny Novgorod: Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University; 2024. Pp. 34–37. (In Russian).

12. Greco M., Strazzullo S., Cricelli L., Grimaldi M., Mignacca B. The fine line between success and failure: an analysis of open innovation projects. Open innovation projects’success and failure. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-12-2021-0620

13. Hobbs J., Grigore G., Molesworth M. Success in the management of crowdfunding projects in the creative industries, Internet Research. 2016;1(26):146–166.

14. Ivakhnik D.E. Improving approaches to assessing the success of IT projects. Actual problems of economics and management. 2024;1(41):89–99. (In Russian).

15. Kakadzhanov V.M., Kudryavtseva S.S. Digital transformation of the management system of industrial enterprises. In: Bashkirtseva S.A. (ed.) Transformation of economic processes in conditions of great challenges: Proceedings of International Scientific and Practical Conference, Kazan, March 10, 2023. Kazan: Otechestvo; 2023. Pp. 39–43. (In Russian).

16. Kafiyatullina Yu.N., Panfilova E.E. Managing the sustainability of the business ecosystem. Upravlenie / Management (Russia). 2022;2(10):33–42. (In Russian).

17. Kiseleva O.N., Vasina A.V., Sysoeva O.V. Adapted method of project management for digitalization of innovative activities of enterprises. Economics and Management. 2021;1(157):42–47. (In Russian).

18. Konovalov Yu.V., Lapaev D.N. Organizational culture and manipulation. Development and security. 2019;3:68–79. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.46960/74159_2019_3_68

19. Kovalev P.P. Successful investment project: Risks, problems and solutions. Moscow: Alpina Publisher; 2017. 432 p. (In Russian).

20. Litvin A.Y. Application of machine learning methods to predict the success of innovative projects. Bulletin of Eurasian Science. 2025;S4(17). (In Russian).

21. Loch C.H., Solt M.E., Bailey E.M. Diagnosing Unforeseeable Uncertainty in a New Venture. Journal of Product Innovation Management. 2008;25:28–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2007.00281.x

22. Miller C., Thomas B.C., Roeller M. Innovation management processes and sustainable iterative circles: an applied integrative approach. Journal of Work-Applied Management. 2020;1(12):69–90. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWAM-11-2019-0037

23. Morozova G.A., Lapaev D.N. The innovator’s model. Development and security. 2024;1(21):72–81. (In Russian).

24. Obodovsky I.S., Yaroshenko A.V. Success factors of innovation implementation. In: Resource Conservation. Effectiveness. Development: Proceedings of VI International Scientific and Practical Conference, Donetsk, October 29, 2021. Donetsk: Donetsk National Technical University; 2021. Pp. 494–499. (In Russian).

25. Perfiliev A.A., Sharipov F.F., Dyakonova M.A. Business development project management in the context of digitalization. Upravlenie / Management (Russia). 2024;4(12):70–78. (In Russian).

26. Potsulin A.D. Forecasting the success of innovative entrepreneurial projects. Proceedings of the St. Petersburg State University of Economics. 2024;5(149):156–161. (In Russian).

27. Rahman M., Hussain B., Hussain M., Hassan H., Johns R. Paradigm of new service development projects (NSDPs): One Basket Fits all. Journal of Contemporary Marketing Science. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCMARS-09-2019-0035

28. Shcherbakova E.S. Modular system of success indicators for innovative projects using artificial intelligence technologies. Bulletin of Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law. 2025;5:205–214. (In Russian).

29. Shcherbakova E.S., Shinkevich A.I. Trends in the success of startups with artificial intelligence technologies in stimulating innovation within the framework of the six-spiral model. Sustainable development management. 2025;2(57):12–24. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.55421/2499992X_2025_2_12

30. Suleymankadieva A.E., Khoreva L.V., Petrov A.N., Petrov M.A. Implementation of corporate innovation projects based on the case technology method. In: Issues of Higher Education and Current Trends in Socio-humanitarian Knowledge (VIII Arsentiev Readings): Proceedings of All-Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation, Cheboksary, December 17–18, 2019. Cheboksary: Sreda; 2020. Pp. 67–71. (In Russian).

31. Tomy S., Pardede E. Uncertainties to Successful Start Ups: A Data Analytic Approach to Predict Success in Technological Entrepreneurship. Sustainability. 2018. https://doi.org/10.10.3390/su10030602

32. Trachuk A.V., Linder N.V. Key performance indicators of innovation activity: perception of significance and practical application. SR. 2021;4. (In Russian).

33. Veretekhin A.V. Digital transformations of the company: classification of approaches to definition and specifics of management. E-management. 2023;2(6):91–101. (In Russian).

34. Vinokur B.M., Mylnikov L.A., Perminova N.V. An approach to predicting the success of an innovative project. Management issues. 2007;4:56–59. (In Russian).

35. Yashin S.N., Kulagova I.A., Malova S.A. Some aspects of foreign experience in managing the implementation of innovative projects by enterprises considering environmental factors. Economics: yesterday, today, tomorrow. 2023;4-1(13):780–788. (In Russian).

36. Yashin S.N., Tammam D. Modeling the management process of innovative enterprise development in the industrial sector. Management accounting. 2024;9:255–260. (In Russian).