{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]],"date-time":"2026-02-19T03:29:00Z","timestamp":1771471740079,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,27]],"date-time":"2023-04-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1682553600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Entropy"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In this paper, we discuss the use of multi-criteria analysis for investment alternatives as a rational, transparent, and systematic approach that reveals the decision-making process during a study of influences and relationships in complex organizational systems. It is shown that this approach considers not only quantitative but also qualitative influences, statistical and individual properties of the object, and expert objective evaluation. We define the criteria for evaluating startup investment prerogatives, which are organized in thematic clusters (types of potential). To compare the investment alternatives, Saaty\u2019s hierarchy method is used. As an example, the analysis of three startups is carried out based on the phase mechanism and Saaty\u2019s analytic hierarchy process to identify investment appeal of startups according to their specific features. As a result, it is possible to diversify the risks of an investor through the allocation of resources between several projects, in accordance with the received vector of global priorities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/e25050723","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,27]],"date-time":"2023-04-27T04:30:47Z","timestamp":1682569847000},"page":"723","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Multi-Criteria Analysis of Startup Investment Alternatives Using the Hierarchy Method"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"Tamara","family":"Kyrylych","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, al. Armii Krajowej 13\/15, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7492-5394","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yuriy","family":"Povstenko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, al. Armii Krajowej 13\/15, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Blank, S., and Dorf, B. (2012). The Startup Owner\u2019s Manual: The Step-by-Step Guide for Building a Great Company, K&S Ranch Press."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Benjamin, G.A., and Margulis, J.B. (2001). The Angel Investor\u2019s Handbook: How to Profit from Early-Stage Investing, Bloomberg Press."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Belton, V., and Stewart, T. (2002). 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