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The Role of Gender in Entrepreneur–Investor Relationships: A Signaling Theory Approach

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  • Gry Agnete Alsos
  • Elisabet Ljunggren

Abstract

This study adopts a gender perspective to analyze funding decisions made by an investment fund that invests equity stakes in new ventures. Prior research has indicated that there is gender skewness in risk capital investments resulting from a combination of demand†and supply†side issues. We apply signaling theory to examine the interface between demand and supply to understand gender biases related to risk capital investments. In†depth analyses of decision documents from four investment cases show that gender plays a role in the signals that are communicated in the prefunding entrepreneur–investor relationship.

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  • Gry Agnete Alsos & Elisabet Ljunggren, 2017. "The Role of Gender in Entrepreneur–Investor Relationships: A Signaling Theory Approach," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(4), pages 567-590, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:41:y:2017:i:4:p:567-590
    DOI: 10.1111/etp.12226
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    7. Cabaleiro-Cerviño, Goretti & Burcharth, Ana, 2020. "Licensing agreements as signals of innovation: When do they impact market value?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
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