Data-Driven Decision-Making & Performance Analytics: Unlocking Insights for Growth

In today’s rapidly evolving digital economy, data-driven decision-making (DDDM) has emerged as a critical enabler of business performance and innovation. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools into decision-making processes is particularly transformative for startups, which often operate in uncertain environments with limited resources. This research explores how data collected and analyzed through AI-based tools can enhance decision-making, foster performance analytics, and support entrepreneurial growth. Focusing on the intersection between higher education and industry in China, the study combines a review of current theories and frameworks with quantitative data from students involved in entrepreneurship hubs. The findings reveal a growing trend among student entrepreneurs to adopt AI tools for market analysis, business forecasting, and performance tracking. This paper contributes to the limited body of literature examining the educational context of AI-driven decision-making and offers recommendations for integrating such tools more effectively into entrepreneurial education.