Sociology of innovation · Organizational analysis · Digital humanities

I make innovation legible in its social and organizational context.

I’m Mostafa Tayefi, a sociology of innovation researcher and analyst of organizations, businesses and data. I work across social science, technology, AI and strategy to turn complex problems into useful insight and action.

About me

I start with the real problem.

My professional path began with a question: how do startups navigate regulation, market forces and social pressure? That question became my master’s thesis and grew into an ongoing research program on resilience, innovation maturity and organizational change.

In practice, I connect new ideas with organizational reality through enterprise diagnosis, data analysis, open innovation, strategy design and applied research.

10+years in digital business
2social science degrees
19.5master’s thesis defense score
Professional experience

I turn research into movement.

A mix of ecosystem development, business development, digital growth and social research for solutions that work in the real world.

Since December 2024

Senior Innovation Ecosystem Developer

Golrang Ventures

Developing Golrang Industrial Group’s innovation ecosystem by connecting organizational challenges with startups, technology firms, universities and ecosystem actors, while designing innovation calls across multiple industries.

Open InnovationResearch
December 2023 – February 2026

Senior Business Developer

Soren Mine

Built online sales funnels for mineral products through website design, SEO, social media and dedicated content, creating new international and commercial networks for the business.

SEODigital Growth
2015 – 2021

Business Manager & Project Lead

WPI · Yazdbook · Uniwere

Managed web and e-commerce projects, product and business development, digital marketing, market research and technical collaboration from early idea to delivery.

ProductE-commerce
Research & ideas

Questions I keep following.

My research explores how innovation relates to society, institutions, organizations and policymaking in Iran.

Core research

Internet startups and government regulatory interventions in Iran

Master’s research on how startups survive, resist and adapt to regulatory interventions and competing institutional pressures.

RegulationStartups
In development

Innovation in post-crisis Iran

A sociological approach to organizational resilience under compound uncertainty, with attention to learning, human capital and adaptive capacity.

ResilienceUncertainty
Essays & analysis

Innovation from a sociological perspective

Exploring how sociology defines, critiques and studies innovation in relation to social and organizational structures.

STSInnovation Studies
Areas of practice

Several roles, one systems view.

Sociology of innovationInnovation Sociology
Innovation ecosystemsEcosystem Development
Organizational & business analysisEnterprise Analysis
Data analysis & modelingData & Evidence
AI & technology studiesTechnology and Society
Enterprise diagnosisOrganizational Health
Digital humanitiesHumanities and Technology
Open & social innovationOpen Innovation
Research designQualitative & Quantitative
Systems thinkingStrategy & Methods
Education

MA in Sociology

Tarbiat Modares University · 2020–2023

Thesis on internet startups’ exposure to government regulatory interventions in Iran.

BA in Social Research

Yazd University · 2016–2020

Focus on social research, organizational analysis and research methods.

Contact & collaboration

Have a complex question? Let’s talk.

Reach out to discuss research, innovation strategy, ecosystem development or professional collaboration.