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How Do Start-up Acquisitions Affect the Direction of Innovation?

Author

Listed:
  • Moraga-González, José-Luis
  • Dijk, Esmée
  • Motchenkova, Evgenia

Abstract

A start-up engages in an investment portfolio problem by choosing how much to invest in a “rival†project, which threatens the position of an existing incumbent, and a “non-rival†project. Anticipating its acquisition by the incumbent, the start-up strategically distorts its portfolio of projects to increase the (expected) acquisition rents. Depending on parameters, such a strategic distortion may result in an alignment or a misalignment of the direction in which innovation goes relative to what is socially optimal. Moreover, prohibiting acquisitions may increase or decrease consumer surplus. The more (less) the rival project threatens the incumbent and the less (more) the non-rival project appropriates the social surplus, the more likely is that consumers benefit (suffer) following an acquisition. These results are robust to acquisitions where the acquirer takes over the research facilities of the start-up.

Suggested Citation

  • Moraga-González, José-Luis & Dijk, Esmée & Motchenkova, Evgenia, 2021. "How Do Start-up Acquisitions Affect the Direction of Innovation?," CEPR Discussion Papers 16362, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16362
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Yassine Lefouili & Leonardo Madio, 2026. "Mergers and investments : where do we stand ?," Post-Print hal-05543677, HAL.
    3. Allain, Marie-Laure & Bourreau, Marc & Darlas, Pierre-François, 2025. "Digital business models and quality investment," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 103(PA).
    4. Benkert, Jean-Michel & Letina, Igor & Liu, Shuo, 2025. "Startup acquisitions: Acquihires and talent hoarding," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    5. Yassine Lefouili & Leonardo Madio, 2025. "Mergers and Investments: Where Do We Stand?," Working Papers hal-05129593, HAL.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L41 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Monopolization; Horizontal Anticompetitive Practices

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