International aspects of growth management in eHealth service start-ups

Stages of growth theory provide little or no evidence regarding international aspects of growth management. Moreover, international entrepreneurship research and the international new venture approach view the growth of start-ups through the perspective of internationalisation, without a special growth management focus. There is a need for research which integrates both aspects. The start-up stage is the most critical period for the survival of a company, as decisions made during this time have a decisive influence on its success, if not survival. Digitalisation is revolutionising international business, and healthcare delivery is no exception. It provides business opportunities, even globally, for innovative start-ups. The aim of this chapter is to clarify international aspects of growth management in eHealth service start-ups. Utilising critical incident techniques and semi-structured interviews in the data collection, managerial priorities are analysed in five case companies in Finland, Sweden and the U.S. The findings demonstrate that international aspects are inseparable from the growth management of international eHealth start-ups. The key management priority areas related to internalisation are focus, strategic management and service development and delivery.