Growth factors of research-based spin-offs and the role of venture capital investing

The performance effects of corporate venture capital: a meta-analysis

The effect of corporate venture capital (CVC) investments is far from being conclusively discussed in literature. Although the expected benefits of CVCs for corporations and start-ups are undisputed, empirical evidence is mixed. We combine and analyze the results of 32 CVC studies, including 105,950 observations: Our results suggest that while CVC investments are positively linked to start-ups’ and investors’ as well as strategic performance, we find no significant relationship between CVC investments and financial outcomes. The effects are moderated by the timing of the investment, the country and industry-effects. For instance, CVC investments in North America and the ICT sector report significant positive effects, while we find no statistical evidence for the health care sector.

Towards a 'wide' role for venture capital in OECD countries' industry 4.0

This paper focuses on the current theoretical views of venture capital that predetermines a "narrow" treatment. In the light of the existing "narrow" treatment, venture investors seek private commercial interests in financial support for Industry 4.0, ignoring other interests that fall beyond the limits of the current "narrow" treatment of venture capital. A "wide" treatment of venture capital 4.0 proposed in this paper allows for improving venture investors' market strategies. Implementing this treatment, they will strive for providing a whole range of advantages for society. Due to this novel approach, venture capital 4.0 might become a tool of corporate social responsibility. To substantiate this novel approach, this paper considers data for 2020 that reflect the influence of venture capital 4.0 on the economy in the period of its stability for 33 countries of the OECD, including developed and developing countries. Econometric modelling based on the official statistics data proves that Industry 4.0 venture capital will help achieve such growth goals as innovative development, global competitiveness, and increasing digital competitiveness. The limitations of this research are due to the impossibility of achieving such goals as sustainable development, economic growth, and implementation of human potential; what's more, the specifics of developing countries have not been studied sufficiently. The conclusions are oriented mainly at developed countries and could merely partially be applied to developing countries. During further research, it is expedient to explore - more thoroughly - the experience of the influence of Industry 4.0 venture capital on emerging economies.

Performance drivers in knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial firms: a multidimensional perspective

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a comprehensive perspective on different facets of knowledge management and their effects on the performance of knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical setting involves small and medium-sized enterprises located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Primary data for 223 knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship (KIE) firms was obtained through questionnaires applied to ventures which applied to the innovative research in small business program, a small business innovation research-like initiative run by the São Paulo Research Foundation. Econometric results assessed the drivers of competitiveness in terms of firm growth, research and development intensification and technology transfer.

Findings

Results highlight the complexity involved in establishing effective knowledge management processes in terms of driving KIE performance. Notwithstanding, some interesting insights on the moderation effects of strategic knowledge management (SKM) systems over technical skills could be identified with particular emphasis for the case of academic spin-offs. Ecosystem drivers present a good explanation power for technology transfer practices but fall short in providing answers for firm-level growth dynamics. It is also noteworthy that public and private investments in KIE firms are similarly associated with positive impacts – contrary to the view that private investors perform better than governmental sources in picking promising small ventures.

Originality/value

The assessment has provided novel evidence for a sample of KIE ventures concerning the appraisal of performance drivers associated with three dimensions of knowledge management, namely, technical knowledge, SKM and ecosystem features. Firms’ outcomes were addressed from a multidimensional perspective, thus providing a comprehensive perspective of the events under scrutiny.

From venture capital towards venture firm innovation performance: evidence from SMEs of China

Based on information asymmetry, agency theory and resource-based view (RBV), this study investigates the impact of venture capital (VC) on venture firm innovation performance, ascertains the extent to which VC affects venture firm innovation performance and finds the mediating effect of management incentives. Constructing a sample of a novel panel dataset of firms listed on the SME Board of China, we examined a sample of 927 start-ups between 2008 and 2017, showing a notable negative relationship between VC and Patent, and a positive relationship between VC and total factor productivity (TFP), providing stable evidence that VC could not spur firm patent directly, but facilitate the commercialization of innovation. Moreover, it shows that management equity incentives (MEI) and management cash incentives (MCI) playing significant positive mediating role between VC and TFP, while there is no mediating effect between VC and Patent. Findings of this study strengthen the experience of VC and suggest how practitioners of SMEs to enhance the commercialization of innovation, considerably extends our understanding of the impact of VC on venture firm innovation performance.