From the problem of combining the growing demand for natural resources with the sustainable limit offered by the planet, the themes related to sustainability have increasingly called the attention of governments, international organizations, and consumers. This global concern generates an environment rich in opportunities for entrepreneurs with disruptive and innovative ideas, both for their economic potential and their purpose for the environment and society [5].

Entrepreneurship is a complex phenomenon that covers various sectors and is influenced by economic, social, cultural, and political factors, as well as influencing them. Therefore, its development requires the consideration of various issues from different perspectives, and this complex and cyclical character highlights the need for the use of the ecosystem approach [1]. For Spigel (2017)[4], an entrepreneurship ecosystem (EE) consists of the union of perspectives, social networks, sources of investment capital, universities, and economic policies that actively create environments conducive to innovation-based ventures.

Green startups designate different types of startups that contribute to building a greener economy. In this sense, green startups focus not only on creating economic value, but also on creating social and environmental value. Green startups have the potential to drive long-term technological progress and lead the transition toward a green economy that preserves the environment and, in a broader sense, fosters a more equal society. These sustainability-oriented startups are differentiated from those that are solely profit-driven [2, 3, 4].

Recognizing the significance of entrepreneurship ecosystems in shaping the trajectory of green startups, this research seeks to uncover the key attributes that drive their creation and growth. We are seeking professionals in Brazil and in Germany, so it is possible to examine the disparities between a developing country and a developed country’s entrepreneurial landscape. By analyzing the similarities and differences between the factors that foster green startups in ecosystems of Brazil and Germany, the research outcomes of this project hold the potential to generate meaningful insights and recommendations for policymakers, support organizations, and aspiring green entrepreneurs.

A comprehensive review of relevant literature was conducted, resulting in 46 identified factors, divided between Social, Cultural and Material attributes. To assess the importance of each factor, the experts’ opinions are going to be analyzed by the Fuzzy-Delphi Method. To assess the relevance of one category of attributes on another, Fuzzy-Cognitive Maps will be created.

In this way, a prioritized list of attributes and maps showing the relationship between the attribute categories are expected as a result, which can help guide stakeholder choices. No studies were found that performed this analysis, and therefore, it has the potential to assist future studies that aim to develop recommendations to make entrepreneurship ecosystems more conducive to the development of green startups and, therefore, greener and more sustainable.

Bibliography
[1] Aliabadi, V, Ataei, P, Gholamrezai, S. (2022). Identification of the relationships among the indicators of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in agricultural startups. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge.
[2] Bergset, L. and Fichter, K. (2015). Green start-ups: a new typology for sustainability and innovation research. Journal of Innovation Management.
[3] Speckemeier, L., Tsivrikos, D. (2022). Green Entrepreneurship: Should Legislators Invest in Formation of Sustainable Hubs?. Sustainability, vol. 14.
[4] Spigel, B. (2017). The relational organization of entrepreneurial ecosystem. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, 49-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12167.
[5] Tiba, S.; Rijnsoever, F.; Hekkert, M. (2021). Sustainability startups and where to find them: Investigating the share of sustainability startups across entrepreneurial ecosystems and the causal drivers of differences. Journal of Cleaner Production, v. 306.