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Coaching Small Biotech Companies into Success: The Value-adding Function of VC

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  • Terttu Luukkonen,
  • Mari Maunula,

Abstract

The paper reports an empirical study on the non-financial value-added provided by Venture Capital investors to their investee firms. This study will use a four-class grouping of the various non-financial value-adding capabilities provided by VC firms, namely, scouting, monitoring, signalling and value-adding services. The study examines biotechnology industry in Finland. Finland has a dual system with independent (partially ever-green) VC companies and public or semi-public VC organisations. Additionally, informal VCs are fairly active. Whether the different types of VC organisation aim, are able and indeed do deliver non-financial value-added, in addition to their financial input, is the central focus of this study. The paper has an evolutionary perspective on Venture Capital according to which VC promotes a variety of experimentation with new technologies, especially through the foundation of new firms oriented to experimentation and development of new ideas. At the same time, VC industry fulfils a selection function in its role as a financial intermediary. The study data have been collected through interviews, conducted at the end of 2005, with the total population of small and medium-sized, VC-backed biotech companies established in Finland since 1986. Central findings of the study include an observation that all three VC types did provide value-added in the meaning outlined above. Nevertheless, there were clear differences between them in terms of the overall perceived value-added as well as in their activity profiles. Informal investors were found to have the highest overall value-added and kept closest contacts with their investee firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Terttu Luukkonen, & Mari Maunula,, 2006. "Coaching Small Biotech Companies into Success: The Value-adding Function of VC," Discussion Papers 1032, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    • Handle: RePEc:rif:dpaper:1032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Luukkonen, Terttu & Maunula, Mari, 2007. "Non-financial Value-added of Venture Capital: A Comparative Study of Different Venture Capital Investors," Discussion Papers 1067, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    venture capital; biotechnology;

    JEL classification:

    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics

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