Purpose

This study determines the different combinations and levels of key failure factors (KFF) as the opposite of key success factors (KSF), between Mexican and American social impact startups (SIS) in COVID-19 pandemic times, as the source of innovation strategies.

Methodology

It is based on the KSF-SIS framework, an academic and empirical scale previously proved in 2021. The survey data was gathered from 100 Mexican/300 American CEOS-SIS in Jan-Jun-2021. Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) determined the model's reliability / validity to confirm the KSF, while Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative (fsQCA) was used to get the KFF.

Results

The 6 factors implied in the KSF-SIS framework were considered: Entrepreneur Profile (EPR); Market Knowledge (MKK); Strategic Analysis (STA); Key Performance Indicators (KPI); Business Plan (BPL); and Value Proposition (VPN). The results showed 5 combinations of these factors that produce KFF for Mexican SIS and 2 combinations for American SIS as innovation strategies to be avoided.

Originality

CB-SEM is used as a reliability and validity tool to confirm the KSF framework to achieve several opposite conditions as KFF through fsQCA, determining necessary, sufficiency, coverage, and consistency of such a framework for Mexican/American SIS.

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