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Proximity relations and the fate of VC-backed startups: Evidence from a global 33-year-long dataset

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas Bédu

    (ART-Dev, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, CIRAD)

  • Olivier Brossard

    (Sciences Po Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, LEREPS)

  • Matthieu Montalban

    (Univ Bordeaux, CNRS, INRAE, BSE, UMR 6060, UMR 1441)

Abstract

The characteristics of the financial arrangements established to finance startups affect the fate of startups. Among these features, we particularly focus on the proximities and differences between venture capital (VC) investors in syndicated investments. We consider the proximities between investors in a startup and between investors and the startup. Against the background of the theoretical literature dealing with proximity relations, we distinguish five types of proximities between VC investors and between VC investors and the startups they finance: geographic, institutional, organizational, social, and cognitive. We then test six hypotheses regarding the impacts of these proximities on the likelihood of three events occurring in VC-backed startups: obtaining a later-stage round of funding, going public, and being merged or acquired. We implement these tests on a 33-year-long, 68-country sample using survival models adapted to account for tied failures and competing events. We find that the five forms of proximity relations are influential but have distinct roles. We also find that the impacts of these proximities are nonlinear in the sense that too much proximity/distance always ends up reverting the effects of proximity/distance. Finally, we observe that as the theoretical literature predicts, cognitive proximity is positively correlated with the probability of a merger and acquisition (M&A) but negatively correlated with the likelihood of an initial public offering (IPO).

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Bédu & Olivier Brossard & Matthieu Montalban, 2024. "Proximity relations and the fate of VC-backed startups: Evidence from a global 33-year-long dataset," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 429-464, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:34:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s00191-024-00860-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-024-00860-y
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    Keywords

    Venture capital; Syndication; Startups; Proximity relations; Cognitive proximity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • 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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