DBA Dissertation: Accelerator Can Support Startups to Combine Sustainability and Growth

M.Sc. (Tech.) Jaakko Isotalo's DBA dissertation investigates the role of sustainable impact accelerators (SIAs) in expediting new ventures' growth and sustainable impact. 

The topic for the research sparked from Isotalo's experience as a partner in a private equity fund. He observed that much of the focus was on reporting due to increasing regulations.

"I wondered if we should discuss what funds could do to promote responsibility in order to get something positive to report."

In his dissertation, Isotalo examines accelerators and their role in blending sustainable impact with commercial viability. The dissertation reviews existing research on the subject, investigates how accelerators contribute to scaling both the commercial and sustainable impact, and introduces a theoretical model illustrating how SIAs support blended value creation in new ventures. 

The 12th Aalto DBA dissertation

Isotalo's research is the 12th dissertation to be completed in Aalto University's Doctor of Business Administration program.

The work was supervised by Markku Maula, professor of venture capital at Aalto University.

The starting point for a DBA is the same as for any other doctoral dissertations: to produce scientifically sound and valid knowledge.

DBA is based on working life and is also useful in practice. You can read more about the Aalto Executive DBA program here.

Defense of DBA dissertation

Aalto University School of Business will review Jaakko Isotalo's DBA dissertation "Beyond screening: How accelerators can engage in expediting the sustainable impact of their portfolio companies” on Friday, 29 November 2024, at 12:00 pm at Aalto University in Töölö, in Marila Hall.

The opponent will be Saurabh Lall from the University of Glasgow and the presiding official will be Professor Markku Maula from Aalto University. The event can also be viewed on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 835 1916 9412

For more information on the study and to order a dissertation:

Jaakko Isotalo
DBA candidate
[email protected]
Tel. +358 40 712 3655