Innovating the Future: Decoding the Startup Ecosystem in a Nascent Emerging Economy

This paper investigates the innovative capability of technology startups in Kazakhstan, identifying critical success factors within an evolving digital economy. By integrating a Delphi method with quantitative analysis, the study offers a new perspective on how diverse internal factors, including leadership type, cooperation, employee satisfaction, emotional intelligence, and diversity contribute to startups' innovation. Findings of this study suggest a positive correlation between transformational leadership style, employee job satisfaction level, emotional intelligence, involvement in multiple cooperation types, gender diversity and startups’ innovative capabilities. These insights are significant for stakeholders aiming to build a resilient startup ecosystem in Kazakhstan and similar developing economies.