A Systematic Review of Digital Tools and Frameworks for Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Idea Evaluation and Feasibility Assessment

Abstract

In the contemporary digital economy, early-stage entrepreneurial idea evaluation plays a critical role in reducing venture failure. However, many novice entrepreneurs lack access to structured and reliable evaluation support. Although numerous frameworks and digital tools for entrepreneurial idea assessment have been proposed, existing solutions remain fragmented and vary in usability, scope, and methodological transparency. This systematic review synthesizes current research on traditional frameworks and digital tools used for early-stage entrepreneurial idea evaluation, with specific attention to their operational efficiency (such as level of guidance, automation, and ease of use) and identified drawbacks (including subjectivity, limited scope, and usability barriers). This study followed PRISMA guidelines, and 70 records were identified from major academic databases, of which 28 studies published between 2015 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria. The review reveals that traditional methods such as SWOT analysis and feasibility assessment remain widely used due to their simplicity but are often applied inconsistently and subjectively by beginners. Digital tools and decision support systems introduce greater structure and automation; however, the review found limited evidence of a comprehensively integrated, user-centered system that supports the full entrepreneurial idea evaluation workflow for non-expert users based on the included studies. While most reviewed studies are situated in developed entrepreneurial ecosystems, the findings suggest important implications for developing contexts, such as Sri Lanka, where accessible and guided digital evaluation support remains limited. Overall, this review identifies a clear research gap and provides an evidence-based foundation for the design of integrated, beginner-oriented digital entrepreneurial idea evaluation systems.