Challenges of scaling-up process for start-ups

Abstract Start-up is just a beginning phase of a company life cycle followed by the growth or scaling phase where the growth potential of start-up can develop into a high-growth company bringing revenues, well-paid jobs and taxes. The purpose of the paper is to analyse the essence of scaling up and the relevant external and internal factors for successful scaling up. The research method consists in analysis of internal and external conditions for successful scaling up and related support policies in the EU and Slovakia based on the secondary survey data and relevant publications. The findings about the Slovak start-up ecosystem confirm the relevance of risks of scaling up for the Slovak startups too. Therefore next to the improving of the start-up ecosystem the Slovak policy makers should develop systematic support measures for the scale-up ecosystem in Slovakia based on appropriate scale up metrics and incentives for support of start-ups in order to achieve a higher proportion of gazelles in the economy.