  Software startups are becoming increasingly popular in software industry as
well as other sectors of economy. Startups that lack necessary competences
often seek for external resources from outsourcing partners. Little is known
how this outsourcing relationship works and whether it makes sense to outsource
the technical competence to an external party. This is among the first
investigations on the outsourcing relationships in software startups. By
conducting exploratory case studies at six startups, we found a mixed
experience with outsourcing. The experimental nature of an early product
development makes outsourcing a feasible option, although startups often suffer
from its uncertainty and managing commitments from partners. Results further
propose that early contract-based activities could be transformed into a
long-term partnership by adopting a startup boundary spanner s role,
establishing an inter-personal relationship and maintaining a mutual
commitment.
