Objective. The aim of this essay is to explore some of the symbolic configurations invested on startups. Specifically, we seek to (i) rescue the fundamental bases of Weberian perspectives and socio-historical conceptions about capitalism and entrepreneurship in order to metaphorically (ii) analyze the pursuit of a particular ethos guided by symbolic markers about the world of startups, taking as contextual reference the current discourses of the redemptive entrepreneurship current that supposedly pair with some of Weber's observations.
Design/method/perspective. The Weberian approach opens our eyes to new possibilities for understanding startups, especially by supposing that the discussions held about these organizations in these disciplines seem to be crossed by the construction of prophetic and messianic narratives around the social role of startups and the lives of CEOs, this being a perspective little explored by academia.
Results. We highlight that (i) not everything is as perfect as it seems to be in the world of startups, even though this current advocates actions that try to reflect more of the divine goodness and the creation of an atmosphere of constant celebration, victorious practices, and a transforming fraternity; (ii) the concepts of the current linked to redemptive entrepreneurship are close to Weberian observations; and, finally, (iii) the suspicion that other symbolic configurations may be incorporated in the discourses of the agents integrating innovation ecosystems. Originalidade/valor. This essay lies in the fact that we have managed to think of startups as a social phenomenon from the Weberian approach.
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