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When are venture capital projects initiated?

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  • Li, Yong
  • Mahoney, Joseph T.

Abstract

This paper examines how public market information relates to the initiation of venture capital projects. Analysis of venture capital investments in the U.S. between 1980 and 2007 indicates that venture capitalists tend to defer new investment projects in target industries with substantial market volatility. This delay effect of market volatility is reduced if the target industry experiences high sales growth or if competition among venture capitalists is intense in the target industry. The paper provides further evidence to corroborate the view that venture capitalists rationally respond to market shifts in their investment decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Yong & Mahoney, Joseph T., 2011. "When are venture capital projects initiated?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 239-254, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbvent:v:26:y:2011:i:2:p:239-254
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    4. Jing Wu & He Li & Ling Liu & Yun Xu, 2021. "Prior ties, investor role, and venture capital syndication," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 1449-1459, April.
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    6. Carolin Bock & Christian Hackober, 2020. "Unicorns—what drives multibillion-dollar valuations?," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(3), pages 949-984, November.
    7. Zhiyang Liu & Zuhui Xu & Zhao Zhou & Yong Li, 2019. "Buddhist entrepreneurs and new venture performance: the mediating role of entrepreneurial risk-taking," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 713-727, March.
    8. Tennert, Julius & Lambert, Marie & Burghof, Hans-Peter, 2017. "Moral hazard in VC finance: More expensive than you thought," Hohenheim Discussion Papers in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 02-2017, University of Hohenheim, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.
    9. Balz, Frank P. & Brinkmann, Florian & Kanbach, Dominik K., 2023. "The impact of independent and heterogeneous corporate venture capital on firm efficiency," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    10. Cheng‐Wei Wu & Jeffrey J. Reuer, 2021. "Acquirers’ Reception of Signals in M&A Markets: Effects of Acquirer Experiences on Target Selection," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(5), pages 1237-1266, July.
    11. Makarevich, Alex, 2018. "Ties of survival: Specialization, inter-firm ties, and firm failure in the U.S. venture capital industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 153-165.
    12. Poonam Khanna & Lemaro Thompson & Michael Mcdonald, 2015. "Research On Venture Capital Firms’ ‘Investment Behavior A Review’," Working Papers 0197mgt, College of Business, University of Texas at San Antonio.
    13. Lucas, David S., 2024. "The effect of regime change on entrepreneurship: A real options approach with evidence from US gubernatorial elections," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(4).
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