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Identifying and boosting “Gazelles”: Evidence from business accelerators

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  • González-Uribe, Juanita
  • Reyes, Santiago

Abstract

Why is high-growth entrepreneurship scarce in developing countries? Does this scarcity reflect firm capabilities constraints? We explore these questions using as a laboratory an accelerator in Colombia that selects participants using scores from randomly assigned judges and offers them training, advice, and visibility but no cash. Exploiting exogenous differences in judges’ scoring generosity, we show that alleviating constraints to firm capabilities unlocks innovative entrepreneurs’ potential but does not transform subpar ideas into high-growth firms. The results demonstrate that some high-potential entrepreneurs in developing economies face firm capabilities constraints and accelerators can help identify these entrepreneurs and boost their growth.

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  • González-Uribe, Juanita & Reyes, Santiago, 2021. "Identifying and boosting “Gazelles”: Evidence from business accelerators," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(1), pages 260-287.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:139:y:2021:i:1:p:260-287
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2020.07.012
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    2. Hernando Gutierrez, Luis & Rodriguez-Lesmes, Paul, 2023. "Productivity gaps at formal and informal microfirms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. Matteo Aquilina & Giulio Cornelli & Marina Sanchez del Villar, 2024. "Regulation, information asymmetries and the funding of new ventures," BIS Working Papers 1162, Bank for International Settlements.
    4. Jochmans, Koen, 2023. "Many (Weak) Judges in Judge-Leniency Designs," TSE Working Papers 23-1481, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    High-growth entrepreneurship; Business accelerators; Young firms; Firm capabilities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • 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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