Spatial and temporal changes and influencing factors of the location of internet start-ups in Shanghai, China

Innovation and entrepreneurial activities based on the transformation of Internet economy and information technology have become a focus of attention in today's society. Using the cross-sectional data on the number of Internet start-ups in Shanghai Municipality, this study explored their spatial distribution characteristics and location factors by adopting the methods of nuclear density analysis, Ripley's K function, and negative binomial regression model. The results show that: 1) Internet entrepreneurship has entered an active period since 2010, and the change is consistent with the situation nationwide and the urban industrial orientation in Shanghai. 2) With regard to the spatial distribution, an overall pattern of agglomeration at the macro level and dispersion at the micro level is present. While highly concentrated within the middle ring, enterprises also spread to suburban central towns and new towns. In the central urban areas, agglomeration intensity has continuously increased, and the scale has expanded from 4.5 km to 6.5 km. The spatial distribution changed from relatively balanced to multi-center agglomerations. The five core agglomeration areas, including Huangpu-Jing'an-Xuhui, Wujiaochang, Lujiazui, Zhangjiang, and Caohejing, have won the favor of Internet start-ups depending on their specific resource advantages. 3) Concerning the influencing factors, incubation environment, living environment, business environment, and investment environment constitute the external environment demand of Internet entrepreneurial activities. Industrial agglomeration, technological factors, and land prices have had significant impacts on the spatial distribution of Internet start-ups.