Abstract Rapid international expansion assists startup growth, but it may exert strain on organisational capabilities, which can often lead to business failure. Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities theory, this study examines how temporal compression erodes startups’ ability to attain global success. This study presents a case study of the speedy expansion into Europe by Getir, a Turkish ultra-fast grocery delivery startup valued at US12 billion, followed by its retreat by 2024. We collected data via interviews with eight senior managers who had experienced both the growth phase and subsequent contraction. Data were triangulated against financial reports, investor disclosures and media coverage. Four failure mechanisms emerged from thematic analysis: (1) centralisation paradox (where excessive hierarchical control limited market responsiveness) ; (2) temporal-cultural compression (in which speed was prioritised over cultural adaptation) ; (3) strategic myopia (in which growth objectives overrode long-term sustainability) ; and (4) operational strain (where resource depletion reduced market flexibility). This study expands on RBV and dynamic capabilities theory by introducing the concept of temporal-cultural compression, which captures the systematic erosion of cultural learning capabilities under accelerated scaling pressures.
Ahmed et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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