Growth Challenges Sport Start-up Businesses in Iran

The purpose of this study was to identify the growthchallenges of sport start-up businesses in Iran. The study is an exploration research and is considered as qualitative. The research data were collected through subjective sampling and based on deep semi-structured interviews with experts in this field (all startups managers, science and technology parks, growth centers, university professors, elites in the field of sport entrepreneurship). The number of participants reached 21 using the theoretical saturation index and the findings were analyzed by grounded theory in coding process included three steps: open, axial and selective coding. Findings indicate that categories such as innovation and idea generation, specialist human capital, organizational and individual aspect, and the specialized unit of the country's sports startups as contextual factors and Categories such as structural and governmental, Hard infrastructure, Strategic and environmental factors and Entrepreneurship centers and sports start-up in federations and... as interferer factors were recognized for the growth of start-up sport businesses in Iran. That can help to employment creation, sport development, growth and revival of sport startups and the country's economic sustainable growth under sanction.