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In the rapidly evolving business landscape, the growth of firms is intrinsically tied to their ability to innovate. While many factors contribute to a company's growth trajectory, recent studies have spotlighted the pivotal role of business model innovation. This concept, defined as "the search for new logics of the firm and new ways to create and capture value for its stakeholders" (Casadesus-Masanell & Zhu, 2013, p. 464), has been identified as a key driver for international growth (Eriksson et al., 2022). Notably, entrepreneurial firms have harnessed business model innovation to carve out new markets, resulting in remarkable growth (Loon et al., 2020; Snihur et al., 2018).

Central to this discussion is the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems. These are dynamic networks comprising various elements - social, political, economic, and cultural - that collectively foster the growth of innovative startups (Spigel, 2017, p. 50). Such ecosystems can organically form around large corporations or be intentionally cultivated by business incubators and accelerators. Their influence is profound, shaping the business models of new ventures at different life stages, from inception to maturity. For instance, a university incubator might mold a startup's business model in its nascent phase, while later stages might see influences from support industries and competitive forces.

However, a gap exists in understanding how these ecosystems influence the design of business models, especially given the undeniable link between business model innovation and firm growth. This project aims to bridge this gap by exploring:

• RQ1: How do entrepreneurial ecosystems enable business model innovation for firms within these ecosystems?
• RQ2: How do key players in these ecosystems, like incubators and institutional actors, influence the relationship between business model innovation and the growth trajectory of new ventures?

Furthermore, for nations with smaller domestic markets, such as Finland, internationalization is a crucial growth strategy. While business model innovation has been linked to successful internationalization, there's limited research on how entrepreneurial ecosystems can bolster this process. Thus, we also seek to address:

• RQ3: How can accelerator programs be optimized to support business model innovation and sustainable international growth for Finnish companies?

In essence, this research endeavors to provide a comprehensive understanding of the symbiotic relationship between entrepreneurial ecosystems, business model innovation, and firm growth. By doing so, we aim to offer actionable insights for firms, policymakers, and stakeholders, ensuring sustained growth in an increasingly globalized market.