**3. Digital startups**

Digital startups are considered as the heart and impetus of the knowledgebased economy. Although the term "small and medium enterprises" has been used extensively in the management and economic literature for many years due to its special functions, the term "digital startups" or "technology-based companies" is relatively new and there is no clear definition for this term in many countries [1]. Some researchers have proposed that "digital startups" refer to organizations that use their knowledge- and technology-based assets as the main resource to create a competitive advantage for the organization. Digital startups are different from other companies or institutions since digital startups employ a greater number of knowledge employees and experts, there are greater technological changes in these institutions compared to traditional industries, research and development have been done more frequently in these companies, and growth mainly relies on technology-based development [44]. In addition, technological innovation is regarded as their competitive advantage, and ultimately these companies will quickly conquer new markets. These firms are relatively small and innovative and offer products and services across the border and are very often called high-techborn global firms.

It is also noteworthy that knowledge capital is regarded as the main asset of digital startups. Besides, the competitive advantage of a digital startup is achieved through knowledge and the effective implementation of knowledge [32]. Regardless of their main products, digital startups carry out different levels of their activities with a focus on innovation [11]. Such companies aim to transform knowledge into power and create a knowledge-based business; hence, digital startups perform their economic activities based on research and development activities and help promote a knowledge-based economy in society [45]. To develop such firms, organizational flexibility and culture play an important role where knowledge employees are embedded in the development process of the organization and they feel like part of the organization. Digital startups may overlap with the following concepts—smalland medium-sized companies, startups, high-tech industries, new technologybased companies, and reproductive companies [44]. Digital startups are required to implement innovation in their processes constantly to retain effectively and survive in the competitive environment of new technologies. Thus, they will be able to meet the growing needs of their surroundings.

Such companies will allow their countries to maintain their competitiveness against developing economies, where the workforce and production cost is lower; these countries will also be able to achieve the desired level of employment [46]. A digital startup refers to a private or cooperative company or institution that aims to *Perspective Chapter: The Role of Knowledge Employees' Voices in Creating Knowledge in Digital… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105646*

integrate science and wealth, develop a knowledge-based economy, achieve scientific and economic goals (including the expansion and application of inventions and innovations), and commercialize research and development findings in superior technology fields with a great deal of added value, especially in the production of related software. Consequently, it can be concluded that such digital startups rely on the intellectual capital of the organization to help discover respective opportunities [47]. For this purpose, it is crucial to pay attention to knowledge employees' voices. Knowledge employees' comments and suggestions can lead to new ideas that are relevant to the internal and external problems of the company, which will result in a competitive advantage over other companies.
