In the United States, the number of female entrepreneurs who receive venture capital funding is significantly lower than the number of male entrepreneurs who receive venture capital funding. This thesis explores some of the economic, sociological, and psychological principles behind why this gender disparity in venture capital might exist. This thesis then surveys the current efforts in place to lessen the disparity, and lastly prescribes future ways in which female entrepreneurs can gain more access to capital for their businesses.

Riskkapitalbranschen är en växande bransch i Sverige och både en viktig finansiär samt kunskapskälla för både nystartade företag och företag med ambition att växa sig stora och internationella. Beroende på vart i livscykeln ett företag befinner sig står de inför olika utmaningar och behöver hjälp med olika saker, en hjälp som riskkapitalbolagen kan bidra med. Studien syftar till att generera kunskap om svenska riskkapitalbolag och bidra med kunskap till den kunskapslucka vi observerat inom ämnet. Studien fokuserar på nätverksstrukturen bland de företag som svenska riskkapitalbolag har valt att investera i samt skillnaden i nätversstrukturen beroende på vart i livscykeln företagen befinner sig. Med en kvantitativ metod har vi, genom att identifiera relationerna mellan de företag som riskkapitalbolagen investerar i, kartlagt nätverken mellan de olika aktörerna. Populationen bestod av svenska riskkapitalbolag och urvalet skedde strategiskt utifrån vad olika källor ansåg vara de två största och mest framgångsrika riskkapitalbolagen i norden. Med hjälp av excel, Minitab 16 samt UCINET 6 har vi kunnat illustrera de olika nätverken samt kunnat analysera dem i form av centralitet och densitet på nätverksnivå samt jämfört de olika relationerna. Studiens resultat visar på att riskkapitalbolagen är med och löser de olika fasernas karakteristiska utmaningar med hjälp av hur de strukturerar nätverken bland de företag de väljer att investera i. Detta betyder således att nätverkets struktur är viktig för de olika företagens framgång. / This study is aiming of contributing with information about Swedish Venture Capital firms, which we have found is missing. By answering research questions like how the networks of the Venture Capital firms are structured and if the network structure has different settings depending on which phases in the life cycle the invested companies are located. We focus on the Swedish venture capital firms and their networks. The network structure is analyzed out of centrality, density and number of relationships. In UCINET 6 we were able to make illustrations of our networks and to calculate the values of our variables on network level. In the statistical program Minitab, we calculated the mean value and standard deviation for the venture capitals’ invested companies’ phases.

This thesis consists of an introductory part, including venture capital definitions, the history of venture capital in Sweden, and an overview of the venture capital process, and four self-contained papers on venture capital and the venture capital process. Paper 1 investigates the standardisation of the contractual strategies applied in the Swedish venture capital industry. The study was based on a questionnaire data regarding the use of contractual covenants. Our results indicate that the greatest differences occur among those with different investment preferences. There would appear to be two distinct venture capital cultures controlling contractual choices in these groups. Our findings generally conform to expectations as predicated by institutional theory. Paper 2 investigate venture capital firms’ valuation practices in two different economic contexts, in the economic boom of 1999 and in the downturn market of 2002 by using an experimental case study design with a case based on a real firm. Contrary to our expectations, in times of heightened stringency and economic downturn, venture capital investors employ fewer valuation models than they do in boom times. The main contribution of our research is an increase in the knowledge of venture capitalists’ valuation practices under different market conditions. It can also contribute to researchers developing more relevant theories of valuation, valuation models and valuation practice. Paper 3 empirically examines the linkage between governance, trust and performance based on a questionnaire sent to entrepreneurs in venture capital backed companies in Sweden. The results suggest that the level of trust between the venture capitalist and the entrepreneur affects the relationship between VCs governance and the portfolio company’s performance. Paper 4 analyse exit strategies and exit-directed activities among entrepreneurs in venture capital relationships. The study focuses on the effect of the venture capital organization (independent, public sector and captive) on strategy and exit-directed activities. The results indicate that firms with a trade sale strategy tend to have a higher degree of exit activities compared to other exit strategies. Furthermore, the type of venture capital organization involved (especially when comparing private independent VCs to public sector VCs) also affects exit strategies and activities.

Le point de départ de cette thèse a été constitué par la création, en France, des Pôles de Compétitivité pour fonder une nouvelle économie nationale basée sur la science. Ces structures s’inscrivent dans la perspective théorique qui s’est construite sur l’importance de l’action partenariale, dans l’émergence, la diffusion et le développement de l’innovation technologique des petites entreprises. Toute l’organisation actuelle des pôles repose en effet sur un courant théorique qui stipule que le principe fondateur de l’innovation au sein des petites entreprises est la proximité. Ce courant a connu un considérable essor, notamment avec les écrits de M. Porter sur la notion du « Cluster ». Cependant, l’innovation technologique est un défi d'envergure pour les petites entreprises innovantes, car celles-ci sont confrontées à des situations de risques qui freinent leur développement. Au même temps, pour faire face à ces risques, bon nombre de chercheurs ont mis en évidence le lien étroit entre la nature du financement et le développement de l’innovation technologique des petites entreprises ainsi que l’ensemble d’un cluster. C’est notamment le cas dans la co-location de la science, l’industrie, et la finance par capital-risque au sein de la Silicon Valley. Au sein de ce cluster, il existe un lien intime entre le financement par capital-risque et son évolution économique. Ainsi, comme pour les pôles de compétitivité (Dupuy et Granier, 2010), le financement par capital-risque est alors présenté comme l’ultime alternative pour le financement et le développement de l’innovation entrepreneuriale (Gompers et al., (2005), Klagge et Martin (2005), Ferrary (2006, 2007, 2009)). Ces sociétés sont alors considérées comme les « encastreurs » ; le relais entre les ressources locales d’un cluster et les besoins des petites entreprises. Non seulement elles financent le projet entrepreneurial, mais elles soutiennent également l’innovation des petites entreprises à travers des actions concertées avec les acteurs locaux d’un cluster, comme les centres de recherche, de formation, et les grandes entreprises. Notre recherche vise, par conséquent, répondre à la problématique suivante: « Comment les sociétés de capital-risque assurent-elles le management des entreprises innovantes dans le cadre d’un pôle de compétitivité? ». Il faut dire que la littérature est riche en ce qui concerne le lien entre le financement de l’innovation par capital-risque et le développement des réseaux d’innovation (Gompers et al., 2005 ; Ferrary, 2006, 2007), néanmoins, cette question demeure sans explication complète et définitive dans le cas des pôles de compétitivité. Ainsi, afin d’apporter de nouveaux éléments qui expliquent ce paradoxe, nous allons essayer, à travers cette thèse, d’élaborer un cadre explicatif du comportement des sociétés du capital-risque au sein d’un pôle de compétitivité. / The starting point of this thesis was formed by the creation in France of the “Pôle de Competitive” as Clusters to found a new economy based on science. These structures are part of the theoretical perspective that has been built on the importance of partnership action, in the emergence, dissemination and development of technological innovation of small businesses. All the current organization of the poles is indeed based on a theoretical current which states that the founding principle of innovation in small firms is proximity. This trend has seen a considerable growth, particularly with the writings of Michael Porter about the notion of "Cluster". However, technological innovation is a major challenge for small innovative companies, as they face situations of risk which hamper their development. At the same time, to address these risks, many researchers have highlighted the close link between the nature of the financing and development of technological innovation of small businesses as well as an entire cluster. This is the case in the co-location of science, industry, finance and venture capital in Silicon Valley. Within this cluster, there is a close link between funding by venture capital and its economic development. Thus, as for Pôles de Compétitivité (Dupuy and Granier, 2010), the venture capital financing is then presented as the ultimate alternative for the financing and development of entrepreneurial innovation (Gompers et al., (2005) , Klagges and Martin (2005), Ferrary (2006, 2007, 2009)). These companies are then considered as the link between local resources in a cluster and the needs of small businesses. They not only fund the entrepreneurial project, but they also support small business innovation through joint actions with local actors in a cluster, such as research, training, and large enterprises. Our research is, therefore, answer the following question: "How do venture capital companies they provide the management of innovative companies as part of a pôle de compétitivité? ". It must be said that literature is rich regarding the link between the financing of innovation through venture capital and development of innovation networks (Gompers et al. 2005; Ferrary, 2006, 2007), however, this remains unexplained in the case of these clusters. Thus, in order to bring new elements that explain this paradox, we will try, through this thesis, to develop a framework explaining the behavior of venture capital firms in a pôle de compétitivité.

The purpose of this study is to test if there is bias in the Venture Capital investment decision-making process towards ecosystems. To guide the research and ensure the fulfillment of the study’s main purpose, we will analyze two specific ecosystems (Stockholm and Silicon Valley). This choice is motivated by their respective importance (Worldwide and Nordics reference) in the global entrepreneurial landscape. The aim is to make an empirical contribution regarding how a herding behavior from Venture Capital investments can drive irrational investment flows towards specific ecosystem such a Silicon Valley, regardless available information towards other ecosystems, in this case, Stockholm. Most researches until today have been focusing on the assessment of startup-focused factors which we believe only picture partly the attractiveness of a startup ecosystem. In our perception, environmental factors in which the ecosystem take place also play an essential role in the attractiveness of an ecosystem to invest in. Is there a behavioral bias in the investment decision processes of Venture Capital regarding startup ecosystems? To assess the presence or absence of a behavioral bias in the investment decision of Venture Capital investors, we are first going to establish an objective attractiveness score using environment-based factors. These factors are going to be combined into six main variables that picture the environmental attractiveness of both ecosystems. In a second time, we are going to submit these six variables to two populations of investors operating in each ecosystem. To do so, we will operate a quantitative study of Stockholm and Silicon Valley-localized private Venture Capital investors towards our different environmental variable. This will enable us to obtain their specific drivers toward these variables and therefore adapt our objective attractiveness scores to obtain weighted attractiveness scores. In a third time, we are going to compare our obtained weighted attractiveness scores per ecosystem with the investment flows effectuated respectively in both ecosystems in 2016. To be able to compare both settings on the same range, we are going to calculate both investment flow data: investment volumes and number of deal closed per capita. The results of this comparison will then bring us either a correlation relation between weighted attractiveness and investment flows per capita for both ecosystems, infirming our theory or a non-correlative relation, which would confirm our theory. Indeed, a non- correlative relation will show that investors do no follow a rational investment behavior based only on the attractiveness of their ecosystem.

Diploma thesis aims to describe the current state of the Private Equity financing in the Czech Republic. This issue is viewed from two angles. The first part is devoted to macro-economic assessment of the current state of Private Equity in the Czech Republic. It aims to describe the current situation, compare it to economies with a developed private equity market and to draw recommendations that will lead to further development of private equity in our country. The focus of the second part is to characterize the Private Equity market from a microeconomic perspective. It aims to describe the functioning of the Private Equity market at the level of individual entities, the business model and analyze and compare the investment strategies of General Partners operating in the Czech Republic.

The thesis deals with venture capital and private equity from investor's point of view first. There are presented different types of investors, management companies and funds and the relation among these subjects. Venture capital and private equity is an alternative to finance business activities from the entrepreneurial perspective and this paper provides profile of an appropriate company and explains the relation between the investment fund and the company. The analytical part focuses on investment activity in the Czech Republic and the findings about level and structure are analysed with regard to selected factors from business and investment environment.

A presente dissertação de mestrado tem como finalidade o estudo dos instrumentos jurídicos previstos no Direito Brasileiro utilizados nas operações de venture capital, tendo em vista a sua capacidade de lidar com os problemas de agência na cadeia de investimento das referidas operações. O estudo fundamenta-se na importância desse mercado no financiamento de inovações, que, por sua vez, possuem importância vital para o desenvolvimento dos países. Particularmente, tais operações atuam para suprir a falta de financiamentos disponíveis para empresas recém-constituídas, de pequeno e médio porte, com alto potencial de introduzir inovações no mercado. A literatura estrangeira revela-nos que problemas de agência são consideravelmente altos na cadeia de investimento de venture capital, tendo em vista a alta assimetria informacional entre agentes e principais nas relações entre investidores e venture capitalists, e venture capitalists e empreendedores. A mesma literatura anota que os instrumentos jurídicos desempenham papel fundamental no alinhamento dos interesses das partes nas relações retromencionadas, para que as operações sejam viabilizadas. Diversas avenças e mecanismos são previstos em tais instrumentos, com este propósito, tendo em conta as condições deste mercado em particular. No Brasil, para que o mercado de venture capital se desenvolva, os instrumentos jurídicos devem lidar com tais problemas, e é nessa análise que concentramos nossos estudos. / This research has as it purposes the study of legal instruments provided for in the Brazilian Law and used in venture capital transactions, taking into account their capacity of dealing with agency problems inherent to the investment chain of referenced transactions. The study has its grounds on the importance of such market to the financing of innovations, which, in its turn, have vital importance to the development of nations. Particularly, said transactions work to correct the lack of available financing to start up small and medium companies with high potential to introduce innovations into the market. The foreign literature shows that agency problems are considered high in the venture capital investment chain, taking into account the high information asymmetry between principals and agents to the relationships between investors and venture capitalists, and venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. The same literature affirms that the legal instruments perform fundamental role in the alignment of parties interests in the aforementioned relationships, so that the transactions are made feasible. A variety of covenants and mechanisms are set forth in such instruments with this purpose, considering the conditions of such particular market. In Brazil, in order to develop the venture capital market, the legal instruments have to deal with such problems, and that is the focus of our analysis.

Using a human capital perspective, this study investigates the relationship between the specific human capital of the top management teams of venture capital firms (VCFs) and the firms’ investment performance. The results of this study demonstrate that, in the early-stage information technology and communication (ICT) industry, VCFs’ technological expertise strongly predict better venture capital firm performance in the form of greater portfolio exit ratio. While financial expertise shows a positive but not significant effect. This study finds that although venture capital investing is a financial activity, technological expertise is the human capital characteristic that is more appropriate for this sub-environment. Future research is suggested.

This study has been prompted by the recent introduction of the JSE Alternative Exchange in South Africa, an alternative listing platform for smaller companies compared to the more established JSE Main Board Exchange. This new era has led to information asymmetry among current and prospective investors regarding the risk-return profile of the companies listed on the relatively new JSE Alternative Exchange and how this profile relates to the profile of firms listed on the long established JSE Main Board Exchange. In an attempt to fill the above information gap, this study sheds light on the short, medium and long-term performances of initial public offerings of companies listed on the JSE Alternative Exchange vis-a-vis that of JSE Main Board Exchange. This information is relevant for investment and financing decision making, principally for investors, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. The findings of this research appear to be contrary to expectations and to corporate finance theory. The results indicate that on average, initial public offerings by larger JSE Main Board companies outperform the smaller JSE Alternative Exchange companies on a nominal and risk-adjusted bases in the short-medium and long-term. It must be noted however that the differences in performance are not statistically significant. On the other hand, in line with documented evidence in the literature, it was found that the risk of returns on the smaller capitalisation JSE Alternative Exchange companies was indeed higher than that of the JSE Main Board companies. A similarity identified between the average performances of the two listing platforms is that, the returns for companies decreased overtime between the short and long-term. This may be partly due to the impact of the 2007 economic recession.