Cette thèse porte sur les enjeux encore non explorés du capital-risque d’entreprise (Corporate Venture Capital, ou CVC). Cette recherche mobilise l’approche basée sur les ressources, l’approche fondée sur les connaissances, l’apprentissage organisationnel avec un focus particulier sur le concept d'ambidextérité, l’approche par les options réelles et la théorie des réseaux. L’analyse empirique couvre la période de 1998 à 2017 et est basée sur 4 206 entreprises américaines pour le premier essai, 1 547 entreprises américaines de biotechnologie pour le deuxième et 12 895 investissements effectués par 274 investisseurs en CVC nord-américains pour le troisième. Pour tester toutes nos hypothèses, nous utilisons des régressions multiples (MCO, régression binomiale négative, méthode des doubles moindres carrés,…). Dans le premier essai, nous montrons, en utilisant l’approche par les options réelles, que lorsque l’incertitude exogène est réduite, les entreprises financées par CVC bénéficient de montants d’investissement plus élevés et d’une durée d’investissement plus longue. Deux facteurs réduisent l'incertitude et améliorent le processus d'apprentissage organisationnel: la force des liens et la proximité géographique entre l'investisseur et l’entreprise financée. Les apports supplémentaires d’investissement conduisent à une entrée en bourse plus fréquente pour les entreprises soutenues par le capital-risque indépendant tandis qu’une durée plus importante de l’investissement débouche sur une sortie par acquisition plus fréquente pour les entreprises soutenues par le CVC pour des raisons liées à l’apprentissage organisationnel. Dans le deuxième essai, les entreprises soutenues par CVC affichent des taux d'innovation plus élevés que leurs homologues soutenues par IVC. La performance en termes d’innovation des entreprises soutenues par CVC dépend de leur capacité à tirer parti des ressources complémentaires de leurs investisseurs. Nous proposons trois mécanismes qui améliorent le taux d'innovation: la capacité d'absorption des entreprises financées, la force des liens et la proximité géographique entre les entreprises qui financent et les entreprises financées. Dans le troisième essai, l'ambidextérité séquentielle conduit à une meilleure performance financière pour l’investisseur que les formes équilibrées ou simultanées d'ambidextérité des investissements en CVC. Enfin, la combinaison des formes d'ambidextérité équilibrées et simultanées produit des synergies et améliore la performance financière de l’investissement en CVC. / This thesis addresses unexplored issues on corporate venture capital (CVC). This research is designed on insights from resource-based view, knowledge-based view, organizational learning with a special focus on ambidexterity, real options lens, network theory. Our empirical analysis covers the period between 1998 and 2017 and is based on 4206 U.S. companies for the first essay, 1547 U.S. biotechnology companies for the second essay and 12895 investment-deals from 274 North American corporate investors for the third one. To test all hypotheses, we employ multivariate -regression analyses (e.g., ordinary least squares, negative binomial regression, two-staged least squares). In the first essay, we find that CVC-backed companies exercise real options when exogenous uncertainty is mitigated and as a result, experience higher financial injections and prolonged duration. Two influential factors reduce uncertainty and improve the organizational learning process: tie strength and geographic proximity between the corporate investor and the entrepreneurial company. Additional investment amounts lead to a higher frequency of IPO exit for independent venture capital (IVC) backed companies while longer investment durations motivate a higher frequency of acquisition exit for CVC-backed companies for organizational learning reasons. In the second essay, CVC-backed companies display higher rates of innovation output than their IVC-backed counterparts. The performance of CVC-backed companies is responsive to their ability to leverage the complementary resources of corporate investors. We propose three mechanisms that improve the innovation output: absorptive capacity of entrepreneurial companies, tie strength, geographic proximity. In the third essay, sequential ambidexterity drives to higher corporate investors’ financial performance than balanced or simultaneous forms of ambidexterity in CVC investments. Finally, the combination of balanced and simultaneous forms of ambidexterity produce synergy and enhance the financial performance of CVC investments.

This publication-based dissertation concerns the syndication and value creation activities of heterogenous corporate venture capital funds over six chapters. The first chapter serves as an introduction to venture capital heterogeneity and syndication and provides an overview of the four research papers included in the dissertation. The second chapter is a systematic literature review of recent research on heterogeneous venture capital syndication. Therein the underlying motivation, dynamics and results of fund- and affiliation-heterogenous syndicates are clearly identified, integrated and promising avenues for further research are specified. The third chapter is a research paper on the value creation activities of investment syndicates among independent and corporate venture capital funds. Building on a cross-industry sample of 35 interviews this inductive study identifies the determinants of value creation, integrating them in a matrix comprising shareholder relationships, corporate setup, venture lifecycle and deal terms. Chapter four is a research paper that empirically observes how corporate venture capital units leverage the resources of their incumbent parents to generate value for their portfolio firms. Based on case studies of 11 corporate venture capital units the paper reveals the mechanism behind corporate venture capital value creation holistically and identifies eight design elements that result in a typology of four distinctive archetypes. The last research paper is chapter five and concerns the distinct impact structurally heterogeneous corporate venture capital funds have on portfolio firms operating efficiency. Employing the longitudinal, European Union sponsored VICO dataset the paper finds differences in CVC structure, autonomy and objectives to have implications on firm efficiency. The present dissertation is concluded in the sixth chapter, highlighting contributions, limitations and promising avenues for further research.

The venture capital (VC) landscape is a crucial driver of economic growth and innovation, comprising a diverse range of capital investors. This dissertation highlights the heterogeneity, performance, and massive and rapid scaling efforts in this sector, focusing on the two dominant actors: Independent Venture Capital (IVC) and Corporate Venture Capital (CVC). The first study examines the contrasting lifespans of CVCs and IVCs, highlighting the early termination patterns of CVCs. The second study delves into the diverse nature of CVCs and analyzes their influence on the efficiency of portfolio firms. The third study probes the hypercompetitive environment in the VC landscape. It examines its implications and funds' strategies to provide quality signals to investors and startups in a hypercompetitive market. The fourth study looks deeper at the beneficiaries of VC funding: digital startups. Specifically, it delves into massive and rapid business scaling dynamics, shedding light on the key drivers behind this growth trajectory and its tensions. In sum, this dissertation advances the prevailing knowledge on venture capital and digital entrepreneurship, offering a deeper exploration of the heterogeneity of the VC landscape with a spotlight on CVCs. Additionally, it provides frontier research into hypercompetition and the underlying dynamics of massive and rapid business scaling.

Portés par des changements technologiques, des cadres juridiques nouveaux, une demande de financement croissante de la part des entreprises innovantes et une montée en maturité des opérateurs du marché, les professionnels du financement de l’innovation ont pour partie modifié leurs pratiques et de nouveaux outils émergent. Ces nombreuses évolutions posent des questionnements théoriques essentiels.La thèse vise à investiguer trois de ces modes de financement. Le premier, les Social Impact Bonds (autrement dénommés en France Contrats à Impact Social) sont un mode de financement de l’innovation sociale non entrepreneuriale apparu en 2010 en Grande-Bretagne. Le second outil analysé est celui du financement participatif (crowdfunding). Forme émergente de financement des projets entrepreneuriaux par la foule sur internet, il connait une croissance forte depuis une décennie. La thèse questionne l’impact du degré d’innovation sur la réussite des campagnes. Le troisième et dernier outil évoqué dans la thèse est celui des fonds de Multi Corporate Venture Capital (MCVC), et leurs formes organisationnelles. / Driven by technological change, new legal frameworks, growing demand for cash from start-ups, and a growing maturity of market operators, innovation finance professionals have partly modified their practices. On the one hand, traditional financing tools have modernized their organizations and methods, and on the other, new forms of financing have emerged. These numerous evolutions open essential theoretical questions, while questioning the traditional theories of the financing of innovation as well as suggesting new theoretical considerations.The thesis investigates three of these modes of financing. The first, the Social Impact Bonds (otherwise known as Contrats à Impact Social, in France) are a way of financing the non-entrepreneurial social innovation that appeared in 2010 in Great Britain. The second tool analyzed is about equity crowdfunding. Emerging form of financing entrepreneurial projects by the crowd on the internet, it knows a strong growth since a decade. The thesis analyzes the impact of innovation degree on campaigns’ success. The third and last tool mentioned in this thesis is that of the funds of Multi Corporate Venture Capital (MCVC).