This paper estimates the effects of capital accumulation on industry labor shares by taking account of capital heterogeneity. Using a cross-country, cross-industry dataset covering 15 European countries over 38 industries, I take advantage of a detailed breakdown of the capital stock distinguishing between physical, ICT and intangible assets. The results suggest that, over the 1995-2015 period, capital accumulation has not been a driving force of declining labor shares - if anything the opposite. Performing a cross-section regression analysis on the relationship between long differences in capital intensities and industry labor shares, I find that accumulation of physical capital in general, and Machinery & Equipment in particular, are the only asset types showing a statistically significant correlation with the labor share, suggesting a positive association. In contrast to previous research, I do not document a negative relationship between ICT capital and labor shares. I do, however, find evidence suggesting that it might be investments in Software & Databases that explain these earlier findings.

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.