Evaluation of Entrepreneur Ecosystem Support Structures and Startup Survival Rates in South East Nigeria

Startup survival is a major challenge in Nigerian entrepreneurship ecosystems, and professional evaluation of support structures and their impact on survival rates in South East Nigeria provides evidence for ecosystem development investment. This study evaluated the startup support structures and their effectiveness in improving survival rates among technology and creative economy startups in Enugu, Anambra, and Imo States. Support structures assessed included accelerators, incubators, mentorship networks, angel investor networks, government grant programmes, and university technology transfer offices. Startup survival data were collected for 120 startups founded between 2019 and 2022, tracking survival through December 2023. Survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox proportional hazards model) was employed. Results showed that 3-year startup survival rate in the South East was 34%, compared to Lagos's estimated 41% for comparable cohorts. Accelerator programme participation was the strongest predictor of survival (HR = 0.41, p < 0.001), reducing failure hazard by 59%. Mentorship network access was the second most significant factor (HR = 0.58, p < 0.01). Government grant receipt alone did not significantly predict survival, but grant plus mentorship combinations did (HR = 0.39, p < 0.01). University-linked startups showed 28% higher survival rates than community-based startups. The study concludes that integrated support combining acceleration, mentorship, and university partnerships produces the best startup survival outcomes in South East Nigeria and recommends co-location of these support structures in a dedicated South East Innovation Hub. Keywords: startup survival, entrepreneurship ecosystem, South East Nigeria, accelerators, mentorship