We propose a model that examines the optimal size of venture capital and private equity fund portfolios. The relationship between a VC and entrepreneurs is characterized by double-sided moral hazard, which causes the VC to trade off larger portfolios against lower values of portfolio companies....

This paper presents a first-ever empirical examination of the effectiveness of signals that entrepreneurs use to induce (small) investors to commit financial resources in an equity crowdfunding context. We examine the impact of venture quality (human capital, social (alliance) capital, and...

We study the law production race-to-the-bottom/race-to-the-top debate in a unique context of crowd-funding in which potential agency problems are extreme. Our empirical setting is based on survey data from Canada in 2013(Q1) when equity crowd-funding was not permitted but was openly contemplated...

Takeover speculation may hurt productivity because uncertainty and threat of job loss cause anxiety, distraction, and reduced collaboration and morale among employees. Using a large panel of OECD-headquartered firms, we show that firm productivity temporarily declines after announcements of...

We conjecture that marketplace lending provokes an increase in the quantity of entrepreneurship, particularly in more regionally disadvantaged areas, albeit at lower average quality. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design that exploits exogenous variation in borrowers’ access to...

M&A rumors cause anxiety, distraction, and reduced employee morale due to the implicit threat of job loss. Using an international sample of M&A rumors that do not materialize, we show that firm productivity temporarily declines after rumors surface. This productivity dip is more pronounced for...

Firms generally begin as privately owned entities. When they grow large enough, the decision to go public and its consequences are among the most crucial times in a firm's life cycle. The first time a firm is a reporting issuer gives rise to tremendous responsibilities about disclosing public...

The topic of entrepreneurial finance involves many issues including but not limited to the risks and returns to being an entrepreneur, financial contracting, business planning, capital gaps and the availability of capital, and market booms and busts. This handbook provides a comprehensive...