Tolerating Losses for Growth: J-Curves in Venture Capital Investing

Startups face a trade-off between short-term profitability versus long-term growth where investors tolerate prolonged financial losses. We present a new theory and empirical evidence about the existence and shape of so-called J-curves. The theory predicts that investors facing better exit opportunities have a higher loss tolerance, encouraging startups to pursue more ambitious growth strategies. Empirically, we examine a large Swedish dataset with detailed cash flow information. Swedish startups backed by US venture capitalists experience deeper J-curves than those backed by non-US venture capitalists. They have more successful exits, higher exit values, faster sales growth, and more follow-on funding.