DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE FINANCING STRATEGIES FOR TRANSPORT STARTUPS

Abstract

The article explores the conceptual and practical approaches to forming innovative financing strategies for transport startups in the context of digitalization, sustainability, infrastructure transformation, and global challenges. It emphasizes that due to the complexity, capital intensity, and high risks associated with transport innovations, a well-developed and adaptive financial strategy is a crucial success factor for startup development and scalability. The authors present a five-stage strategic framework: assessing financing needs based on the type and scale of innovation; building a risk-adjusted financial model that incorporates flexible budgeting and uncertainty; defining funding goals in relation to growth phases; selecting optimal financial instruments such as venture capital, grants, crowdfunding, or blended finance; and establishing communication with investors and stakeholders. The study examines global and EU-level support mechanisms, particularly Horizon Europe and EIT Urban Mobility, which offer co-financing, mentorship, and ecosystem networking to promote scalable, sustainable, and interoperable transport solutions. Special attention is given to the Ukrainian context, where startups must operate under limited resources and wartime disruptions, yet demonstrate resilience and capacity for local problem-solving. The article provides a comparative analysis of scholarly definitions of the term “innovative financing strategy,” revealing common features such as long-term orientation, integration of modern financial and digital tools, flexibility to external shocks, and alignment with environmental and mobility trends. A synthesized table compares academic perspectives and highlights key parameters. Additionally, the study identifies five operational domains of transport startups: electromobility, AI-based logistics, multimodal transport, urban mobility, and digital ticketing systems. Examples of Ukrainian and EU transport startups are presented, with details on funding models and innovation types. The study concludes that innovative financing strategies must be dynamic, risk-sensitive, context-aware, and aligned with sustainable and digital mobility values.