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Coordination Frictions in Venture Capital Syndicates

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  • Ramana Nanda
  • Matthew Rhodes-Kropf

Abstract

An extensive literature on venture capital has studied asymmetric information and agency problems between investors and entrepreneurs, examining how separating entrepreneurs from the investor can create frictions that might inhibit the funding of good projects. It has largely abstracted away from the fact that a startup typically does not have just one investor, but several VCs that come together in a syndicate to finance a venture. In this chapter, we therefore argue for an expansion of the standard perspective to also include frictions within VC syndicates. Put differently, what are the frictions that arise from the fact that there is not just one investor for each venture, but several investors with different incentives, objectives and cash flow rights, who nevertheless need to collaborate to help make the venture a success? We outline the ways in which these coordination frictions manifest themselves, describe the underlying drivers and document several contractual solutions used by VCs to mitigate their effects. We believe that this broader perspective provides several promising avenues for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramana Nanda & Matthew Rhodes-Kropf, 2018. "Coordination Frictions in Venture Capital Syndicates," NBER Working Papers 24517, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24517
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    Cited by:

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    2. Michael Ewens & Joan Farre-Mensa, 2020. "The Deregulation of the Private Equity Markets and the Decline in IPOs," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(12), pages 5463-5509.
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    4. Peter Iliev & Michelle Lowry, 2020. "Venturing beyond the IPO: Financing of Newly Public Firms by Venture Capitalists," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 75(3), pages 1527-1577, June.
    5. 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).

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    JEL classification:

    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage

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