Challenges of Scaling Cultural Edupreneurship in an Institutionalized Educational Ecosystem: The Case of a Digital Platform Startup

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges of scaling digital platform startups and contributes to emerging discussions on platform grafting in institutionalized ecosystems. Drawing on the case of Ekulturskolen, a Norwegian digital platform startup operating at the intersection of educational and cultural entrepreneurship, the study contributes to the literature on digital entrepreneurship and platform scaling. Specifically, it investigates scaling challenges within a strategically important Business-to-Government (B2G) context, drawing on insights from research on digital entrepreneurship, platform ecosystems, and digital startup growth. Ekulturskolen operates within the Norwegian municipal music and arts school system, offering digital educational content that complements existing public services. The findings suggest that successful platform scaling depends not only on technological capabilities and market demand but also on the platform’s ability to engage with and become embedded within the existing ecosystem of public extracurricular arts education. The study further contributes to the understanding of “platform grafting” by illustrating how scaling a digital startup can be a prolonged and complex process, even in the presence of an identifiable unmet need and a technologically robust value proposition. Strongly institutionalized sectoral ecosystems may create substantial barriers to market entry and growth. These barriers are both institutional and ecosystemic in nature and include: (a) structural constraints, such as annual budget cycles and public procurement procedures, and (b) cultural-cognitive barriers among professional stakeholders who may perceive digital innovation as a threat to their professional roles. To overcome these challenges, digital ventures must invest in relationship-building with municipalities, develop partnerships with established actors within the ecosystem, and work toward financial models that are compatible with municipal budgeting practices and procurement requirements.