Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-152).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2006. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-208).

This thesis consists of three essays. In essay 1, we examine the optimal contract design in the venture capital (VC) industry when a general partner (GP) cannot commit to putting effort into an existing partnership. We show that the first-best contract, a layered debt issued to investors, induces the GP's efficient investment decision and prevents him from diverting effort from the partnership, but its feasibility depends on economic conditions and on whether the GP's ability is observed. The model suggests a procyclical pattern of investment funding and a countercyclical pattern of industrial performance. Moreover, new GPs' fundraising and performance are more sensitive to business cycles than those of established ones. In essay 2, we study investment duration of a VC fund based on a simple agency conflict between a GP and investors. A short duration financing arrangement can minimize agency conflicts but may offer investors rents. When the rents offered to investors are too large, which may occur when the rate of return of a successful investment is high, the GP has an incentive to use less efficient but rent-saving financing arrangements. We show that there can be cases in which the GP uses a long investment duration financing arrangement or is willing to have the fund capital-constrained. In essay 3, we study contests where, subject only to a capacity constraint on mean performance, contestants, facing a rank-dependent payoff function, choose arbitrary performance distributions. In the case of symmetric capacity, we derive closed-form solutions for equilibrium performance distributions and analyze the effect of contest structure on equilibrium behavior. We show that equilibrium performance distributions are never dispersion-maximizing and are always right-skewed when the contest is selective. When contestants' capacities are private information, contests serve as a selection mechanism. We analyze the effect of changing contest parameters on strategies, payoffs, and contest selection efficiency and study the selection properties of different contest designs.

Governments have increased their commitment to spur innovation by increasing the amount of venture capital (VC) flowing to the venture capital market over the last decades. Still, research shows that governmental venture capital (GVC) has no impact on innovation. The literature comparing governmental and private venture capital’s effect on innovation is scarce. Therefore, this study explores how different types of VC affects innovation in Swedish entrepreneurial companies. Based on VC data from the Swedish Venture Capital Association (SVCA), we use 440 VC-backed companies and 440 control companies to test the effects of governmental venture capital, private venture capital (PVC), and mixed venture capital (MVC, a combination of GVC and PVC) on four innovation indicators - patent grants, passive citations, trademarks, and industrial design rights. We use fixed-effects models to compare different VC types and Difference-in-Differences models to draw inferences about causality. Our findings show that all types of venture capital positively affect innovation, while MVC has the most substantial effects. PVC spur innovation mainly through trademarks, while GVC increases both trademarks and patent quality. We argue that MVC has access to an immense amount of capital and can allocate its non-financial resources better than both PVC and GVC separately. We also suggest that GVC focuses more on innovation quality and PVC focuses more on commercializing innovations and bringing them to the market.

Currently, there are indications that Europe is facing an innovation deficit. The main explanation to the lack of innovation is considered to be that new technology-based firms are facing difficulties in receiving funding and consequently do not establish on the market. As new technology-based firms have an important role in technology development and overall growth, a consequence thereof could be a long- lasting negative effect on technological change and economic growth. The venture capital industry is frequently put forward as the actor that can provide financing for these types of firms. This study aimed to investigate the contemporary role that Swedish traditional venture capitalists and government supported venture capitalists have in the funding landscape of new technology-based firms. To fulfill this purpose, the study analyzed both the investors' preferences and the challenges with investing into new technology-based firms. The findings were acquired through performing eight semi- structured interviews with highly knowledgeable practitioners. In addition, literature was scrutinized. The study concluded that the preferences of the venture capital firms are heavily misaligned with investments into new technology and that digital companies present a better aligned investment alternative. More specifically, venture capitalists perceived the teams of new technology-based firms to be lacking, which is misaligned with the venture capitalists' strong emphasis on the team. New technology-based firms were also perceived to be associated with great risks, which is misaligned with the risk aversion of venture capitalists. The high risk was found to be related to the high degree of novelty, the perceived difficulties in finding syndication partners, the venture capitalists' lack of specific knowledge and experience, the long time to market and the large funding need in early stages. Further, the long time to market is ill-suited with the fund structure of traditional venture capital firms. On the other hand, digital companies were found to be well aligned with the venture capitalists' risk profile and preference for investing large amounts of capital at once. When it comes to government-supported venture capitalists, the study concluded that Industrifonden's preferences are similar to those of traditional venture capitalists and that Almi Invest, due to its structure, faces specific barriers for investing. Based on these findings, the conclusion was drawn that the likelihood is low that venture capitalists will invest in new technology-based firms. In order to be able to draw conclusions regarding the impacts on innovation and technological change, further research on the capabilities and preferences of informal venture capital is necessary. Further research could also attend to the demand of financing to increase the understanding of the innovation deficit. / Idag finns indikationer på innovationsbrist i Europa. En huvudsaklig orsak till innovationsbristen anses vara att bolag med ny teknologi har svårt att få finansiering och därmed etablera sig på marknaden. Eftersom ny teknologi spelar en viktig roll i teknologisk utveckling och ekonomisk tillväxt, är en möjlig konsekvens av innovationsbristen långtgående negativa effekter på teknologisk utveckling och ekonomisk tillväxt. Venture capital industrin framhålls ofta som en aktör som kan finansiera denna typ av bolag. Denna studie syftade till att undersöka vilken roll svenska traditionella venture capital fonder och statliga venture capital fonder har i finansieringslandskapet av ny teknologi. För att uppnå detta syfte analyserade studien både investerarnas preferenser och utmaningarna med att investera i ny teknologi. Resultaten nåddes genom att genomföra semistrukturerade intervjuer med åtta erfarna praktiserande i industrin. Intervjuobjekten hade antingen erfarenhet från traditionellt eller statligt venture capital. Utöver detta granskades litteratur på området. Studien fann att venture capital industrins preferenser på flera vis inte matchar investeringar i ny teknologi medan digitala bolag väl passar in i preferenserna. Mer specifikt ansåg venture capitalisterna att teamen för ny teknologiska bolag saknar viktiga kvalitéer, något som missmatchar venture capitalisternas starka fokus på teamet. Nyteknologiska bolag ansågs också vara associerade med hög risk, vilket står i stark kontrast till venture capitalisternas riskaversion. Den höga risken ansågs vara relaterad till investeringens nya natur, den upplevda svårigheten att hitta syndikteringspartners, venture capitalisters avsaknad av specifik erfarenhet, den långa tiden till marknaden och de stora kapitalbehoven i tidiga skeden. Vidare fann studien att den långa tiden till marknaden var misspassat till fondstrukturen hos traditionella venture capitalister. Och andra sidan visade studien att digitala bolag passar väl med venture capitalisters riskprofil och preferens för att investera stora belopp på en gång. När det kommer till statliga venture capital fonder fann studien att Industrifondens preferenser är mycket lika de traditionella venture capitalisternas preferenser och att Almi Invest står inför särskilda barriärer för att investera i ny teknologi. Baserat på dessa resultat konkluderade studien att sannolikheten är låg att venture capitalister investerar i ny teknologi. Forskning på kapaciteterna och preferenserna för informellt kapital är dock nödvändigt för att kunna dra slutsatser kring effekterna på innovation och teknisk utveckling. Framtida forskning bör också fokusera på efterfrågan på kapital för att förstå innovationsbristen.

Although China's legal and policy environment for the VC industry is improving, Chinese policy makers who wish to promote the VC in China need to increase the regulatory supply of and legal demand for VC. Against the background of this study of the experiences of the U.S. VC industry, it becomes clear that some VC legal techniques employed in the U.S. should be adopted in China. Based on the lessons learned in the U.S., China should improve its financial liberalization, create new legal techniques for VC governance in ventures, promote its exit channels, and provide a proper stimulus policy. / Since the future of China's VC industry is likely follow the model presented by the VC industry in the U.S., which is seen by most commentators as the best VC industry in the world, China should study the important lessons learned in the century of VC legal experiences in the U.S. This study compares the Chinese VC legal system with that of the U.S. in four aspects: funding, governance in ventures, exits, and stimulus. / The main problems of China's VC legal system include those of fundraising, overly complex foreign VC investment restrictions, limited exit channels, and ineffective governmental stimulus. In an attempt to solve these problems, this study examines six key factors that influence the nature and performance of a proper VC legal framework. These factors include the formation and fundraising of VC firms, the usual life cycle of VC investment, the impact of economic and political policy on VC development, the governance of ventures, an established financial market, and governmental VC stimulus. / Venture capital (VC) is the investment by a financial firm in high-growth, high-risk, and high-tech private start-ups for high returns in the future. Since the importance of VC for the high technology sector and the economy as a whole has been widely accepted in China, it follows that a successful VC industry is an important tool for China to further develop and strengthen its economy and high technology industry. A well designed legal system will attract more investors to engage in China's VC industry, while a poorly designed legal regime will throw obstacles in the way of investments for the industry. This study offers evidence on how a proper legal framework may be established for China's VC industry. / Zhang, Zhang. / Advisers: David Donald; Xi Chao. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 260-281). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Bakgrund       Tillväxtviljan bland de svenska småföretagen är stor, men avsaknad av kapital begränsar många entreprenörer och småföretag. Den höga risknivån minskar möjligheterna att erhålla exempelvis bankfinansiering, och för många tillväxtbolag i tidiga faser kan Venture Capital därför vara det enda finansieringsalternativet. Syfte               Syftet med studien är att skapa förståelse för de investeringskriterier som svenska Venture Capital-bolag använder vid sin utvärdering av potentiella investeringsobjekt samt jämföra dessa med vad entreprenörer anser påverkar utvecklingen av ett företag. Metod             Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär och empirin består av data från 20 genomförda intervjuer samt skriftliga frågeformulär, där respondenterna utgörs av venture-kapitalister samt entreprenörer som har erhållit Venture Capital-finansiering. Resultat         De kriterier som är centrala vid Venture Capital-bolags utvärdering av potentiella investeringsobjekt är entreprenörsteamet, marknads-förutsättningar samt produkterbjudande. Av dessa kriterier anser både venture-kapitalister och entreprenörer att det är entreprenörsteamet som i störst utsträckning påverkar ett företags utveckling. Att entreprenörsteamet tillskrivs så stor betydelse förklaras av att förutsättningarna för företagets fortsatta utveckling ständigt förändras, vilket ställer krav på att entreprenörsteamet har förmåga att hantera denna dynamiska process och anpassa företagets utveckling efter oförutsedda förändringar. / Background   There is a strong desire to grow among small Swedish enterprises, but lack of capital is a limiting factor to many entrepreneurs and small enterprises. The high level of risk reduces the possibilities of receiving financing through bank loan or similar, which makes Venture Capital the only financing alternative for some high growth-ventures in early stages. Aim                 The aim of this study is to provide understanding for the investment criteria used by Swedish Venture Capital firms during their evaluation of investment propositions, and to compare these with factors that entrepreneurs perceive as influential to the development of a company. Methodology The approach of this study is qualitative, and the presented findings are conducted from 20 interviews and written questionnaires. The respondents consist of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who have received Venture Capital financing. Result            The criteria that are of central importance to Venture Capital firms’     when evaluating investment propositions are the entrepreneurial team, the market potential and the product offer. Among these criteria both entrepreneurs and venture capitalists perceive the entrepreneurial team as the criterion with the largest impact on the development of a company. The importance of the entrepreneurial team is explained by the fact that the conditions for the company’s further development are under continuous change, which necessitates the entrepreneurial team’s ability to handle this dynamic process and adapt the company’s development to unexpected changes.

這個論文的題目就是台灣的創業投資. 研究包括五家公司作創業投資. 三家公司是普通的創投公司, 一家是人壽保險公司. 最後一家是工業銀行. / The venture capital investment model was established in Taiwan in 1983, following a similar scheme from the United States. Since its inception, it has played a decisive roll in the development of the high technology industry in Taiwan. It helps enterprises by providing them with capital funding, necessary for the creation of innovative projects with high potential to become successful business activities in the future. Taiwan has one of the most developed Venture Capital markets in the world. By December 31, 1999 the aggregate number of Venture Capital firms came to 145 with a total investment of NT$ 81.1 billion. With this thesis, an analysis of the investment strategies that five financial institutions adopt for their venture capital will be executed. A number of variables that define the framework of venture capital investing will be examined in order to have a clear picture of those investment strategies. In one hand we will have three “traditional” Venture Capital firms which have their own criterion and procedure on why and how to do investments in this field. In the other hand, we will study other types of investors, a life insurance company and an industrial bank. For this study, a qualitative approach was adopted. Interviews with members of those five venture capitalists’ top management team were held. Interesting results were taken from the empirical study as it was found that not all “traditional” venture capital companies share the exactly same view on how to do venture capital investments. Results regarding the life insurance company were mostly in line with expectations as well as results from the industrial bank.

Although there is consensus on the increasing role of emerging and developing economies in global markets, the literature on the mechanisms contributing to their growth remains still limited. The research aims to contribute to knowledge by exploring and understanding the process of transformation from a centrally planned economy into a market based economy. This transformation process is analysed from the perspective of a Venture Capital industry emerging and developing in Poland. The research focuses on the dynamics of particular factors and their impact on a specific set of stakeholders. In order to take a sufficiently broad contextual view, an organizational theory approach was employed. The Venture Capital industry was treated as a community of organizations which are connected by direct or indirect relationships. The interpretative framework was provided by two leading organizational theories: Institutional theory and Resource Dependence theory. The research is qualitative, and is guided by a specially designed framework for collecting and analysing the data. The primary data were collected though semi structured interviews with Venture Capital industry stakeholders of different types, and with different roles in the process. The research contributes to knowledge at three levels. Firstly, it addresses the literature gap on emergence of the Venture Capital industry in Poland. Secondly, it contributes to an understanding of the process of the emergence of a Venture Capital industry and economic transformation. Thirdly, findings may contribute to policy recommendations formulated to accelerate effective development in financial services.

Étant donné que les espoirs de croissance des pays développés reposent largement sur leur capacité à développer l’innovation, la question du financement de l’innovation est cruciale. Les biotechnologies sont au centre de nombreux débats et sont décrites comme étant une source de croissance et d’emplois pour nos économies modernes. Pour pouvoir se financer, les entreprises spécialisées dans les biotechnologies rencontrent beaucoup de difficultés à accéder à des financements. Il semblerait que les capital-risqueurs sont l’un des rares investisseurs à vouloir supporter les risques liés à l’activité des entreprises de biotechnologies, parmi lesquels il convient de distinguer entre capital-risque indépendant (IVC) et capital-risque d’entreprise (CVC). Cette thèse a pour principal objet l’analyse des apports de ces différents capital-risqueurs dans le contexte des biotechnologies et plus singulièrement l’apport d’un co-investissement faisant intervenir ces deux types d’investisseurs. Dans un premier temps, nous nous intéressons à l’étude des disparités entre IVC et CVC en nous basant sur les résultats d’une enquête menée auprès des capital-risqueurs et des entreprises financées. Étant donné la capacité des IVC et CVC à créer de la valeur, nous développons, dans un second temps, un modèle théorique qui décrit les conditions sous-lesquelles un co-investissement mixte est beaucoup plus plausible que toute autre stratégie d’investissement, tel qu’un investissement autonome. Enfin, nous tentons de voir si notre hypothèse centrale qui est la plus grande capacité des syndicats mixtes à apporter de la valeur aux entreprises serait « valorisée » par les marchés au moment de l’introduction en bourse et dans les deux ans qui suivent cette dernière. / Given that the growth prospects of developed countries rely heavily on their ability to develop innovation, the issue of financing innovation is crucial. Biotechnologies are the center of many debates and are described as a source of growth and jobs for our modern economies. Companies specializing in biotechnology encounter many difficulties in accessing funding. It seems that venture capitalists are one of the few investors that are willing to bear the risks related to the business of biotechnology companies, among which it is necessary to distinguish between independent venture capitalists (IVC) and corporate venture capitalists (CVC). The main objective of this thesis is to analyze the contributions of these venture capitalists in the context of biotechnology and particularly the contribution of a co-investment involving both types of investors. As a first step, we are interested in the study of differences between IVC and CVC. This study is based on the results of a survey of venture capitalists and corporate funding. Given the ability of IVC and CVC to create value, we develop in a second step, a theoretical model that describes the conditions under which a co-investment involving both types of venture capitalists is much more plausible than any other investment strategy, i.e. a stand-alone investment. Finally, we try to check if our main hypothesis, i.e. greater value-adding capacity of mixed syndications, is valued by public markets at the time of IPO and during the two years following that event.