Three learning loops. Knowledge management in hi-tech start-up companies

Paper discusses phenomena of knowledge acquisition and management in contemporary small innovative organizations on the example of Polish hi-tech start-ups. Exploratory empirical studies have been conducted in Krakow. Ten semi-structured interviews were analyzed with employment of Grounded Theory. As a result, start-up’s knowledge management model has been described, as combination of three learning loops, corresponding to three different sources of knowledge: customers, other start-up community members and investors.