To be financed or not : the role of patents for venture capital financing


Häussler, Carolin ; Harhoff, Dietmar ; Müller, Elisabeth


[img]
Preview
PDF
dp09003.pdf - Published

Download (274kB)

URL: https://ub-madoc.bib.uni-mannheim.de/2293
URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-22936
Document Type: Working paper
Year of publication: 2009
The title of a journal, publication series: None
Place of publication: Mannheim
Publication language: English
Institution: Sonstige Einrichtungen > ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung
MADOC publication series: Veröffentlichungen des ZEW (Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung) > ZEW Discussion Papers
Subject: 330 Economics
Classification: JEL: G24 L20 L26 O30 O34 ,
Subject headings (SWD): Großbritannien , Deutschland , Biotechnologische Industrie , Patent , Unternehmensgründung , Risikokapital , Finanzierung
Keywords (English): biotechnology , intellectual property rights , patents , R&D , venture capital
Abstract: This paper investigates how patent applications and grants held by new ventures improve their ability to attract venture capital (VC) financing. We argue that investors are faced with considerable uncertainty and therefore rely on patents as signals when trying to assess the prospects of potential portfolio companies. For a sample of VC-seeking German and British biotechnology companies we have identified all patents filed at the European Patent Office (EPO). Applying hazard rate analysis, we find that in the presence of patent applications, VC financing occurs earlier. Our results also show that VCs pay attention to patent quality, financing those ventures faster which later turn out to have high-quality patents. Patent oppositions increase the likelihood of receiving VC, but ultimate grant decisions do not spur VC financing, presumably because they are anticipated. Our empirical results and interviews with VCs suggest that the process of patenting generates signals which help to overcome the liabilities of newness faced by new ventures.
Additional information:




Das Dokument wird vom Publikationsserver der Universitätsbibliothek Mannheim bereitgestellt.




Metadata export


Citation


+ Search Authors in

+ Download Statistics

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics



You have found an error? Please let us know about your desired correction here: E-Mail


Actions (login required)

Show item Show item