Abstract
One of the prominent constraints startups face in emerging markets is the need for more institutions that can help small firms scale in the face of severe resource constraints. This paper explores the role of institutional intermediaries in supporting the scale-up of startups in emerging markets, particularly in the African context characterized by severe institutional voids. There have been several scholarly works on the role of institutions in supporting the development and growth of startups in resource-constrained environments; however, there needs to be more empirical research to understand the effect of institutional intermediaries on the scale-up activities of startups in the African context. Our study addresses this gap by investigating how institutional intermediaries influence the scale-up activities of startups in Africa, utilizing the lens of entrepreneurial bricolage. We surveyed 400 founders and co-founders within Nigeria's startup ecosystem to gain insights. Our findings reveal that institutional intermediaries have a positive direct relationship with scale-up activities of startups and entrepreneurial bricolage partially mediates this relationship. This study contributes to the intersection of entrepreneurship and institutional research, providing valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners in fostering entrepreneurial growth in African contexts.