Chair of Entrepreneurship

Digital and AI Entrepreneurship

How do digital technologies and artificial intelligence change the emergence and development of entrepreneurial opportunities, start-ups, and new business models, and what impact do they have? In this research area, we examine how founders and start-up teams identify, develop, validate, and scale digital and AI-based innovations. Key topics include digital platforms, data- and AI-based business models, network effects, and the role of new technologies in the development and scaling of start-ups.

In addition to the success factors of digital and AI-based business models, we also investigate their unintended and negative effects on individuals and society, as well as approaches to responsible design. Another focus is on how digital technologies and AI can enable sustainable and circular innovations and business models.

Selected Publications

  • Steininger, D. M. (2019). Linking Information Systems and Entrepreneurship: A Review and Agenda for IT-Associated and Digital Entrepreneurship Research. Information Systems Journal, 29(2), 363–407. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12206
     
  • Haag, S., Chase, C., Miczaika, G., Möslein, K., Steininger, D., Zarnekow, R., & van Bohemen, J. (2023). How Can the BISE Community Promote Tech Startups? Business & Information Systems Engineering, 65(4), 475–482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-023-00814-x
     
  • Steininger, D. M., Brohman, K., & Block, J. H. (2022). Digital Entrepreneurship: What is New if Anything? Business & Information Systems Engineering, 64(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-021-00741-9
     
  • Steininger, D. M., & Gatzemeier, S. (2019). Digitally Forecasting New Music Product Success via Active Crowdsourcing. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 146, 167–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.04.016
     
  • Steininger, D. M., Wunderlich, P., & Pohl, F. (2013). Exploring Competitive Advantage of Social Networking Sites: A Business Model Perspective. ECIS 2013 Proceedings, 1–12. http://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2013_cr/214/
     
  • Steininger, D. M. (2016). Digital Entrepreneurship: Definitions, Business Models, and Network Externalities. Dissertation, University of Mannheim. https://ub-madoc.bib.uni-mannheim.de/41856/
     
  • Steininger, D. M. (2026). Rethinking Success in Digital Business Models: Engagement-Impact Tensions in Youth Smartphone Use. IIS Pre-ECIS Workshop Proceedings 2026, Milan, Italy. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20219439