Designing Early Warning Systems for Digital Gazelles: An Echelon-led Approach

High failure rates among born- or grown-digital startups - so-called digital gazelles - limit innovation and economic development, often due to an inability to anticipate risks in volatile environments. While early warning systems (EWS) can support more timely and informed decisions, existing frameworks are typically ill-suited to the fast-paced, resource-constrained reality of digital gazelles. This study applies the Design Echelons methodology to structure the development of an EWS tailored to these ventures. We identify six aggregated dimensions informed by literature and interviews, contributing to the problem statement and Echelon I. From these, we derive six meta-requirements and twelve design principles as part of Echelon II. Our contributions include: a contextualized understanding of risk-related challenges faced by digital gazelles, design knowledge for future EWS development, and methodological guidance for structuring complex DSR projects. This work lays the foundation for EWS solutions that support the survival and scaling of digital gazelles in entrepreneurial ecosystems.