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Decision biases and entrepreneurial finance

Author

Listed:
  • Gordon K. Adomdza

    (Ashesi University College)

  • Thomas Åstebro

    (HEC Paris)

  • Kevyn Yong

    (ESSEC Business School)

Abstract

We study the effects of three cognitive biases by the entrepreneur on obtaining funding. We find planning fallacy to increase funding amounts, whereas optimism and overconfidence by the entrepreneur have no effects on funding amounts from others. Further, planning fallacy positively impacts the probability of strong-tie (inside) investments but negatively impacts the probability of weak-tie (outside) investments. Mediation analyses further show that planning fallacy positively impacts venture performance through both self and other investor funding amounts. Our findings are not consistent with the pecking order theory of informal finance and suggest positive effects of at least one cognitive bias on entrepreneurial business success through increased funding.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordon K. Adomdza & Thomas Åstebro & Kevyn Yong, 2016. "Decision biases and entrepreneurial finance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 819-834, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:47:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-016-9739-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-016-9739-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. de Meza, David & Dawson, Christopher & Henley, Andrew & Arabsheibani, G. Reza, 2019. "Curb your enthusiasm: Optimistic entrepreneurs earn less," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 53-69.
    3. Kraft, Priscilla S. & Günther, Christina & Kammerlander, Nadine H. & Lampe, Jan, 2022. "Overconfidence and entrepreneurship: A meta-analysis of different types of overconfidence in the entrepreneurial process," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4).
    4. Helen Bollaert & Gaël Leboeuf & Armin Schwienbacher, 2020. "The narcissism of crowdfunding entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 57-76, June.
    5. Gianpaolo Abatecola & Matteo Cristofaro & Federico Giannetti & Johan Kask, 2022. "How can biases affect entrepreneurial decision making? toward a behavioral approach to unicorns," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 693-711, June.
    6. H. Young Baek & Florence Neymotin, 2019. "Overconfident entrepreneurs: Innovating more and paying the piper," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(2), pages 1144-1153.
    7. Cottle, Griffin W. & Anderson, Brian S., 2020. "The temptation of exaggeration: Exploring the line between preparedness and misrepresentation in entrepreneurial pitches," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    8. Geiger, Mark, 2020. "A meta-analysis of the gender gap(s) in venture funding: Funder- and entrepreneur-driven perspectives," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 13(C).
    9. Mariano Puglisi & Vincenzo Fasone & Giulio Pedrini & Deborah Gervasi & Guglielmo Faldetta, 2022. "Using a dual system of reasoning in small businesses: Entrepreneurial decisions and subjective risk intelligence," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 529-553, June.
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    11. Giancarlo Giudici & Massimiliano Guerini & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2018. "Reward-based crowdfunding of entrepreneurial projects: the effect of local altruism and localized social capital on proponents’ success," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 307-324, February.
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