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Serial Investors and Early Stage Finance

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Kelly

    (London Business School)

  • Michael Hay

    (London Business School)

Abstract

This study examines the early stage investment activity of UK serial investors, individuals who have made at least three private investments. Two distinct groups emerged; one which invested on their own all the time ("solo serial investors") and the other which invested with others almost exclusively ("syndicate serial investors"). Both groups had invested in a variety of industrial sectors, a majority of which were in sectors where no one in the investor group had previous direct experience. Concept familiarity appeared to be a necessary, albeit insufficient, prerequisite to the decision to invest. For a majority of the investments reviewed for both groups, the investor(s) backed individuals personally known to them, to another syndicate member, and/or to the deal referrer. When the linkage to performance is explored, both solo and syndicate serial investors are well advised to back entrepreneurs known to a least one member of the investor group.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Kelly & Michael Hay, 1996. "Serial Investors and Early Stage Finance," Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance, Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management, vol. 5(2), pages 159-174, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:pep:journl:v:5:y:1996:i:2:p:159-74
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marie-Christine Chalus-Sauvannet & Karine Demauras, 2019. "Caractéristiques et motivations des femmes Business Angels et leurs interactions avec les femmes entrepreneurs ?," Post-Print hal-02121737, HAL.
    2. Mark Van Osnabrugge, 1998. "Do Serial and Non-Serial Investors Behave Differently?: An Empirical and Theoretical Analysis," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 22(4), pages 23-42, July.
    3. Dmitri Boreiko & Dimche Risteski, 2021. "Serial and large investors in initial coin offerings," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 1053-1071, August.
    4. Heukamp, Franz & Liechtenstein, Heinrich & Wakeling, Nick, 2006. "Do business angels alter the risk-return equation in early stage investments? Business angels as seen by venture capitalists in the German speaking countries," IESE Research Papers D/655, IESE Business School.
    5. Mason, Colin M. & Harrison, Richard T., 2002. "Is it worth it? The rates of return from informal venture capital investments," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 211-236, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Serial Investors; Early Stage Finance;

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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