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When Do Venture Capital Firms Learn from Their Portfolio Companies?

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  • Dirk De Clercq
  • Harry J. Sapienza

Abstract

In this study, we examine when venture capital firms (VCFs) learn from their portfolio companies (PFCs). Relying primarily on learning and behavioral theories, we develop hypotheses regarding the effects of prior experience, knowledge overlap, trust, and PFC performance on learning by VCFs. We use a combination of primary and secondary data from 298 U.S.–based VCFs to test the hypotheses. Interview data are used to illuminate the results and to guide our discussion of implications.  Many of our results were surprising. For example, we found that the VCF's overall experience is negatively related to VCF learning, and we found that trust in VCF–PFC dyads is also negatively associated with VCF learning. Whereas we expected to observe a curvilinear relationship between knowledge overlap and learning, we found that lower levels of knowledge overlap were associated with greater learning in a linear fashion. Finally, we found that VCFs perceive greater learning to occur in higher–performing PFCs. We discuss the limitations and implications of our findings and also suggest avenues for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk De Clercq & Harry J. Sapienza, 2005. "When Do Venture Capital Firms Learn from Their Portfolio Companies?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(4), pages 517-535, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:29:y:2005:i:4:p:517-535
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6520.2005.00096.x
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    3. Sam Tavassoli & Viroj Jienwatcharamongkhol & Pia Arenius, 2023. "Colocation of Entrepreneurs and New Firm Survival: Role of New Firm Founder’s Experiential Relatedness to Local Entrepreneurs," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1421-1459, July.
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    5. Tavassoli, Sam & Jienwatcharamongkhol, Viroj & Arenius, Pia, 2021. "Colocation of Entrepreneurs and New Firm Survival: Role of New Firm Founder’s Experiential Relatedness to Local Entrepreneurs," Papers in Innovation Studies 2021/13, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    6. Manuel Kaiser & Elisabeth S. C. Berger, 2021. "Trust in the investor relationship marketing of startups: a systematic literature review and research agenda," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 491-517, April.
    7. André Gygax & Anna Griffiths, 2007. "Do venture capitalists imitate portfolio size?," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 21(1), pages 69-94, March.
    8. Boso, Nathaniel & Adeleye, Ifedapo & Donbesuur, Francis & Gyensare, Michael, 2019. "Do entrepreneurs always benefit from business failure experience?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 370-379.
    9. Woike, Jan K. & Hoffrage, Ulrich & Petty, Jeffrey S., 2015. "Picking profitable investments: The success of equal weighting in simulated venture capitalist decision making," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(8), pages 1705-1716.
    10. Douglas Cumming & Grant Fleming & Armin Schwienbacher, 2008. "Financial intermediaries, ownership structure and the provision of venture capital to SMEs: evidence from Japan," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 59-92, June.
    11. Miguel Meuleman & Kevin Amess & Mike Wright & Louise Scholes, 2009. "Agency, Strategic Entrepreneurship, and the Performance of Private Equity–Backed Buyouts," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(1), pages 213-239, January.
    12. Douglas Cumming & Sofia Johan, 2007. "Advice and monitoring in venture finance," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 21(1), pages 3-43, March.
    13. Douglas Cumming & Grant Fleming & Armin Schwienbacher, 2009. "Corporate Relocation in Venture Capital Finance," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(5), pages 1121-1155, September.
    14. Zhang Pingying, 2014. "Understanding Diversification Strategy in Venture Capital Market," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 4(3), pages 277-296, July.
    15. Dmitry Khanin & Raj V. Mahto, 2013. "Do Venture Capitalists Have a Continuation Bias?," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 22(2), pages 203-222, September.
    16. Yasuhiro Yamakawa & Melissa Cardon, 2015. "Causal ascriptions and perceived learning from entrepreneurial failure," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 797-820, April.
    17. Jana Schmutzler & Veneta Andonova & Jonathan Perez-Lopez, 2021. "The role of diaspora in opportunity-driven entrepreneurial ecosystems: A mixed-methods study of Balkan economies," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 693-729, June.
    18. Basu, Sandip & Phelps, Corey & Kotha, Suresh, 2011. "Towards understanding who makes corporate venture capital investments and why," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 153-171, March.

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