Start-ups in the cultural creative industry in the field of books in Iran and presenting development scenarios

Today, start-ups play an important role in all industries and businesses. In this regard book-related industries are one of the most important cultural industries in all of countries. So it is accordingly important in Iran. Considering the activities of start-ups in the field of books, it is necessary to conduct periodic studies on the status and quality of their activities. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study was to explain the activity status of active startups in the field of book in Iran and present development scenarios for them.

The approach used in this study is mixed (quantitative and qualitative). This means that in the first stage of the research, a quantitative approach was used to collect information and explain the status of start-ups. Then in the second part of the research, a qualitative approach was used to formulate their future scenarios. In the quantitative part of the present study, survey research method was used. Also in the second part of this study, which is dedicated to scenario development for future drawing, formative scenario planning method was used. In the first part of the study population, there were 154 active start-ups in the field of books. According to this, 58 of which were in the field of electronic books, 26 of them are in the field of audio books, 65 of them are in the field of distribution and sales of printed books and 5 of them are in the field of social networks. In the second part of the present study, semi-open interviews were conducted with 9 scientific and executive experts in this field to formulate scenarios. To analyze the contents of interviews, hidden qualitative content analysis with inductive approach was used.

The results of this study showed that the main focus of startups is in Tehran and their formation life dates back to the last two decades. In general, start-ups in this field are weak and this weakness is due to the weak field of books in the country. The financial and infrastructure capabilities of these companies are very low and in most cases require support, and investor institutions and accelerators rarely enter these areas due to the slight profitability of this field. In terms of legal and administrative infrastructures, there are many gaps facing these companies in the book industry and it is necessary to reform the procedures, laws and executive infrastructures and facilitate the activities of these institutions.