IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/bushor/v63y2020i4p507-518.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Angel investor network pitch meetings: The pull and push of peer opinion

Author

Listed:
  • Wood, Matthew S.
  • Long, Anna
  • Artz, Kendall

Abstract

The angel investing space has transformed as investors have moved from individual deal seeking to more collaborative models of investing. Angel networks are formal investor organizations that pursue investment deals with entrepreneurs, assist with deal screening, and coordinate due diligence. These coordination activities have clear benefits for angel network members, but they also give rise to a dynamic of reliant judgment in which the espoused opinions of network peers are taken as evidence that weighs heavily on the investment decision. In this article, we provide evidence from an experiment set in an angel investment pitch meeting that reveals the positive bias an angel investor shows toward peer opinions. By revealing these potentially hidden forces in angel network deliberations, we raise awareness and, by extension, offer response strategies for angels and angel network directors to properly manage the influence of peer opinion in angel network discussions.

Suggested Citation

  • Wood, Matthew S. & Long, Anna & Artz, Kendall, 2020. "Angel investor network pitch meetings: The pull and push of peer opinion," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 507-518.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:63:y:2020:i:4:p:507-518
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2020.03.008
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681320300379
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.bushor.2020.03.008?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lerner, Josh & Schoar, Antoinette & Sokolinski, Stanislav & Wilson, Karen, 2018. "The globalization of angel investments: Evidence across countries," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(1), pages 1-20.
    2. Bosma, Niels & Hessels, Jolanda & Schutjens, Veronique & Praag, Mirjam Van & Verheul, Ingrid, 2012. "Entrepreneurship and role models," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 410-424.
    3. Aram, John D., 1989. "Attitudes and behaviors of informal investors toward early-stage investments, technology-based ventures, and coinvestors," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 4(5), pages 333-347, September.
    4. Stevenson, Regan M. & Josefy, Matthew, 2019. "Knocking at the gate: The path to publication for entrepreneurship experiments through the lens of gatekeeping theory," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 242-260.
    5. Richard T. Harrison & Colin Mason & Donald Smith, 2015. "Heuristics, learning and the business angel investment decision-making process," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(9-10), pages 527-554, October.
    6. Hisrich, Robert D. & Jankowicz, A. D., 1990. "Intuition in venture capital decisions: An exploratory study using a new technique," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 49-62, January.
    7. Michael Wyrwich & Michael Stuetzer & Rolf Sternberg, 2016. "Entrepreneurial role models, fear of failure, and institutional approval of entrepreneurship: a tale of two regions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 467-492, March.
    8. Huber, Vandra L. & Neale, Margaret A. & Northcraft, Gregory B., 1987. "Decision bias and personnel selection strategies," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 136-147, August.
    9. Bogaçhan Çelen & Shachar Kariv, 2004. "Distinguishing Informational Cascades from Herd Behavior in the Laboratory," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(3), pages 484-498, June.
    10. repec:use:tkiwps:332 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Joachim Wagner & Rolf Sternberg, 2004. "Start-up activities, individual characteristics, and the regional milieu: Lessons for entrepreneurship support policies from German micro data," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 38(2), pages 219-240, June.
    12. Stevenson, Regan M. & Ciuchta, Michael P. & Letwin, Chaim & Dinger, Jenni M. & Vancouver, Jeffrey B., 2019. "Out of control or right on the money? Funder self-efficacy and crowd bias in equity crowdfunding," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 348-367.
    13. Warnick, Benjamin J. & Murnieks, Charles Y. & McMullen, Jeffery S. & Brooks, Wade T., 2018. "Passion for entrepreneurship or passion for the product? A conjoint analysis of angel and VC decision-making," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 315-332.
    14. Scott Shane, 2012. "The Importance of Angel Investing in Financing the Growth of Entrepreneurial Ventures," Quarterly Journal of Finance (QJF), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(02), pages 1-42.
    15. Wetzel, William Jr., 1987. "The informal venture capital market: Aspects of scale and market efficiency," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 2(4), pages 299-313.
    16. Will Drover & Matthew S. Wood & Andrew Zacharakis, 2017. "Attributes of Angel and Crowdfunded Investments as Determinants of VC Screening Decisions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(3), pages 323-347, May.
    17. David M. Sluss & Blake E. Ashforth, 2008. "How Relational and Organizational Identification Converge: Processes and Conditions," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(6), pages 807-823, December.
    18. Melissa S. Cardon & Cheryl Mitteness & Richard Sudek, 2017. "Motivational Cues and Angel Investing: Interactions among Enthusiasm, Preparedness, and Commitment," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(6), pages 1057-1085, November.
    19. Maxwell, Andrew L. & Jeffrey, Scott A. & Lévesque, Moren, 2011. "Business angel early stage decision making," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 212-225, March.
    20. Nicola Breugst & Anne Domurath & Holger Patzelt & Anja Klaukien, 2012. "Perceptions of Entrepreneurial Passion and Employees’ Commitment to Entrepreneurial Ventures," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(1), pages 171-192, January.
    21. Cheryl R. Mitteness & Melissa S. Baucus & Richard Sudek, 2012. "Horse vs. Jockey? How stage of funding process and industry experience affect the evaluations of angel investors," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 241-267, October.
    22. Scott Shane & Daniel Cable, 2002. "Network Ties, Reputation, and the Financing of New Ventures," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 48(3), pages 364-381, March.
    23. Daniel Kahneman & Amos Tversky, 2013. "Choices, Values, and Frames," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Leonard C MacLean & William T Ziemba (ed.), HANDBOOK OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING Part I, chapter 16, pages 269-278, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    24. Bamberger, Peter & Biron, Michal, 2007. "Group norms and excessive absenteeism: The role of peer referent others," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 103(2), pages 179-196, July.
    25. Pia Arenius & Maria Minniti, 2005. "Perceptual Variables and Nascent Entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 233-247, February.
    26. Ramana Nanda & Jesper B. Sørensen, 2010. "Workplace Peers and Entrepreneurship," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(7), pages 1116-1126, July.
    27. Murnieks, Charles Y. & Cardon, Melissa S. & Sudek, Richard & White, T. Daniel & Brooks, Wade T., 2016. "Drawn to the fire: The role of passion, tenacity and inspirational leadership in angel investing," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 468-484.
    28. Wiltbank, Robert & Read, Stuart & Dew, Nicholas & Sarasvathy, Saras D., 2009. "Prediction and control under uncertainty: Outcomes in angel investing," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 116-133, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sanchez-Ruiz, Paul & Wood, Matthew S. & Long-Ruboyianes, Anna, 2021. "Persuasive or polarizing? The influence of entrepreneurs' use of ingratiation rhetoric on investor funding decisions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(4).
    2. Alt, Marius & Berger, Marius & Bersch, Johannes, 2023. "Investor responses to information updates on peer behavior and public investment policy: The case of green investments," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-024, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    3. Krukowski, Kipp A. & Pollack, Jeffrey M. & Rutherford, Matthew W., 2023. "Winning the opportunity to pitch: Piquing startup investors’ interest by sending the right signals in executive summaries," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 75-86.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lien, Wan-Chien & Chen, Jianhong & Sohl, Jeffrey, 2022. "Do I have a big ego? Angel investors' narcissism and investment behaviors," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(5).
    2. Wesley II, Curtis L. & Kong, Dejun Tony & Lubojacky, Connor J. & Kim Saxton, M. & Saxton, Todd, 2022. "Will the startup succeed in your eyes? Venture evaluation of resource providers during entrepreneurs' informational signaling," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(5).
    3. Warnick, Benjamin J. & Murnieks, Charles Y. & McMullen, Jeffery S. & Brooks, Wade T., 2018. "Passion for entrepreneurship or passion for the product? A conjoint analysis of angel and VC decision-making," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 315-332.
    4. Mojca Svetek, 2023. "The Role of Entrepreneurs’ Perceived Competence and Cooperativeness in Early-Stage Financing," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(6), pages 2047-2076, November.
    5. Cipollone, Angela & Giordani, Paolo E., 2019. "Entrepreneurs meet financiers: Evidence from the business angel market," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1-1.
    6. Melissa S. Cardon & Cheryl Mitteness & Richard Sudek, 2017. "Motivational Cues and Angel Investing: Interactions among Enthusiasm, Preparedness, and Commitment," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(6), pages 1057-1085, November.
    7. Jianhong Chen & Jeffrey E. Sohl & Wan-Chien Lien, 2023. "Angel Investors’ Political Ideology and Investments in Women-Owned Ventures," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(2), pages 379-396, November.
    8. Márton Gosztonyi & Csákné Filep Judit, 2022. "Profiling (Non-)Nascent Entrepreneurs in Hungary Based on Machine Learning Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, March.
    9. Michael Fritsch & Michael Wyrwich & Martin Obschonka, 2018. "Historical Roots of Entrepreneurial Culture and Innovation Activity - An Analysis for German Regions," Jena Economics Research Papers 2018-007, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    10. Stuetzer, Michael & Obschonka, Martin & Audretsch, David B. & Wyrwich, Michael & Rentfrow, Peter J. & Coombes, Mike & Shaw-Taylor, Leigh & Satchell, Max, 2016. "Industry structure, entrepreneurship, and culture: An empirical analysis using historical coalfields," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 52-72.
    11. Guarana, Cristiano L. & Stevenson, Regan M. & Jeffrey Gish, J. & Ryu, Ji Woon & Crawley, Rohan, 2022. "Owls, larks, or investment sharks? The role of circadian process in early-stage investment decisions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(1).
    12. Schwarte, Ying & Song, Yue & Hunt, Richard A. & Lohrke, Franz T., 2023. "Passion as process: Three perspectives on entrepreneurial passion and an integrated path forward," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    13. Douglas Cumming & Minjie Zhang, 2019. "Angel investors around the world," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(5), pages 692-719, July.
    14. Fei Qin & Tomasz Mickiewicz & Saul Estrin, 2022. "Homophily and peer influence in early-stage new venture informal investment," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 93-116, June.
    15. Victor Martin-Sanchez & Ignacio Contín-Pilart & Martin Larraza-Kintana, 2018. "The influence of entrepreneurs’ social referents on start-up size," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 173-194, March.
    16. Sharon Poczter & Melanie Shapsis, 2018. "Gender disparity in angel financing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 31-55, June.
    17. Adi Hoorvitch Lavi & Eyal Yaniv, 2023. "The Effect of Entrepreneur Attributes on Investment Evaluations in Pitch Competitions," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 32(1), pages 39-74, March.
    18. Stevenson, Regan & Allen, Jared & Wang, Tang, 2022. "Failed but validated? The effect of market validation on persistence and performance after a crowdfunding failure," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(2).
    19. Murnieks, Charles Y. & Cardon, Melissa S. & Sudek, Richard & White, T. Daniel & Brooks, Wade T., 2016. "Drawn to the fire: The role of passion, tenacity and inspirational leadership in angel investing," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 468-484.
    20. Arezou Abbasianchavari & Alexandra Moritz, 2021. "The impact of role models on entrepreneurial intentions and behavior: a review of the literature," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(1), pages 1-40, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:63:y:2020:i:4:p:507-518. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/bushor .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.