Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to adopt a practice-theory, “site ontology” perspective to understand how venture capitalists (VCs) add value to their portfolio companies (PCs). Design/methodology/approach: The empirical research involves a field ethnographic study of a VC firm in Dubai, focused on revealing what constitutes value and what VCs do to add this value to their PCs. Findings: Value adding is a profoundly social, embedded process interconnected with other ecosystem actors, investment practices and organizations. The value adding threads of VC activity are part of a holistic configuration of practices that span the investment lifecycle and different levels within the firm. Originality/value: This research contributes a rich account of the social, symbolic nature of VC activity, depicting the everyday activities that comprise value adding practices. It is among the first to introduce practice theory to the VC context and open up a new conversation about its social ontology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 21 |
| Pages (from-to) | 427-447 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Early online date | 14 Nov 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [GRANT1641].Keywords
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Start-ups
- Venture capital
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Business and International Management
- Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous)