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Valuing start-up firms: A reverse-engineering approach for fair-value multiples from venture capital transactions

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  • Barg, Johannes A.
  • Drobetz, Wolfgang
  • Momtaz, Paul P.

Abstract

The valuation of start-up firms is challenging, yet highly relevant for entrepreneurs and financiers alike. We reverse-engineer fair-value multiples by comparing the firm value at the time of financing with the firm value at the time of exit. Our framework produces reliable valuation multiples from observed venture capital transactions per industry and financing round. Despite their simplicity, sanity checks confirm that our multiples are highly performant in describing common valuation characteristics. Valuation multiples are higher when more experienced investors are involved, and when the exit occurs through an IPO rather than an M&A. In contrast, later stage financing rounds and larger investment consortia are associated with lower valuation multiples.

Suggested Citation

  • Barg, Johannes A. & Drobetz, Wolfgang & Momtaz, Paul P., 2021. "Valuing start-up firms: A reverse-engineering approach for fair-value multiples from venture capital transactions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:43:y:2021:i:c:s1544612321000891
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102008
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    3. Hai Long & Jianzhi Zhao & Xiaochen Lin & Lanyong Liu, 2022. "Does Venture Capital Reputation Contribute to Pre-IPO Performance of Entrepreneurial Firms in the Chinese Context?," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, November.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Private equity; Venture capital; Entrepreneurship; Investment multiples; Start-up valuation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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