Venture Capitalists' Decision to Withdraw: The Role of Portfolio Configuration From a Real Options Lens

View/ Open
Issue Date
2012Author
Li, Yong
Chi, Tailan
Publisher
Social Science Research Network
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, author accepted manuscript
Published Version
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2036399Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
When does a venture capital firm withdraw from an investment project prior to its completion? This study offers a real options view on this decision by examining the contingent effects of portfolio configuration. We explore how project withdrawal can be influenced by two distinct dimensions of portfolio configuration, portfolio focus in a strategic domain and portfolio diversity across multiple domains. The empirical analysis shows that while portfolio focus weakens the negative effect of industry-level uncertainty on a venture capitalist’s propensity to withdraw from a project, portfolio diversity strengthens the effect of uncertainty. This study informs current research on the boundary of real options theory and sheds light on the behavior of venture capitalists in financing entrepreneurship.
Description
This is the author's final draft. The publisher's official version is available from: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2036399.
Collections
Citation
Chi, Tailan. (2012) Venture Capitalists' Decision to Withdraw: The Role of Portfolio Configuration From a Real Options Lens. Strategic Management Journal.
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.