CROSS-BORDER VENTURE CAPITAL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

This paper studies how cross-border venture capital investors as opposed to domestic venture capital investors influence the development of their portfolio companies. For this purpose, we use a longitudinal research design and track sales from the year of initial venture capital investment up to seven years after this investment in 692 European technology-based companies. Findings demonstrate how companies backed by cross-border venture capital investors initially exhibit lower sales growth compared to companies backed by domestic investors. After a couple of years, however, companies backed by cross-border investors exhibit higher sales growth compared to companies backed by domestic investors. Finally, companies that raise finance from a syndicate comprising both domestic and cross-border investors develop into the biggest sales generators. Overall, this study provides a more textured understanding of the role played by venture capital investors as their portfolio companies develop and thereby require different resources or capabilities over time.