Unbiased Estimation of Economic Impact of Venture Capital Backed Firms

Abstract

One of the pending issues in venture capital (VC) research is the analysis of the economic impact of the companies that receive venture funds as part of their financing. This paper analyses a sample of VC-backed firms to study their economic impact, in terms of growth in employment, sales, gross margin, total assets, net intangible assets and corporate taxes paid. The results are compared to a control group. Additionally, panel data methodology is applied to verify the significant effect observed over time on the variables analysed. The evidence suggests that VC-backed companies have a greater economic impact and that VC funding has a significant and positive effect on this impact.

Keywords: Venture Capital, impact, entrepreneurial finance, growth of the firm, job creation

JEL Classification: G24, M13, O31