Asset-light construction of technology-driven startups: insights from case studies in China

The resource-efficient allocation advantages of asset-light operations have garnered considerable attention from technology-driven startups in China. Clarifying the construction pathways of asset-light operations is crucial for guiding the development of such enterprises. This study examines two asset-light, technology-driven startups in China to identify key elements of the asset-light operation process and comparatively analyze their heterogeneous construction pathways using imprinting theory. The findings reveal that the alignment of open demand and connectivity conditions forms the foundation for establishing asset-light operation partnerships, while shared logic facilitates collaborations. Establishing symbiotic relationships is identified as a key factor in the sustainable development of asset-light operations. Regarding resource integration pathways, relationship-based entrepreneurial teams typically form asset-light resource networks in a 0 → n diffusion pattern by engaging in acquisitive resource integration behavior, exhibiting the characteristic of expansive resource capability. Conversely, technology-based entrepreneurial teams form 0 → 1 → n bridging resource networks through accumulative resource integration, demonstrating exploratory resource capability. These findings contribute to the study of asset-light operations in independent entrepreneurship and offer differentiated asset-light construction pathway references for technology-driven startups.