The Venture Capital Cycle
The venture capital industry
in the United States has grown dramatically over the last two decades. Annual inflows to
venture funds have expanded from virtually zero in the mid-1970s to more than $9 billion
in 1997. Many of the most visible new firms including Apple Computer, Genentech, Intel,
Lotus, Microsoft, and Yahoo have been backed by venture capital funds. Yet despite this
tremendous growth and its clear success, venture capital remains a mysterious industry.
Numerous misconceptions persist about the nature and role of venture capitalists.
Paul Gompers and Josh
Lerner's extensive research on venture capital organizations is based largely on original
data sets developed through close relationships with institutional investors in venture
capital funds and investment advisors. The Venture Capital Cycle synthesizes their
pathbreakingwork. After a historical overview, the book looks at the formation of funds,
the investment of the funds in operating companies, and the liquidation of these
investments. The concluding chapter provides a road map for future research in this
growing area.
Three themes run throughout
the book. The first is that all venture capitalists confront tremendous incentive and
information problems. The second is that because the various stages of the venture capital
processes are related, the entire process is best viewed as a cycle. The third is that,
unlike most financial markets, the venture capital industry adjusts very slowly to shifts
in the supply of capital and the demand for financing.
Context
1 Venture Capital Fundraising
2 An Overview of Venture
Capital Fundraising
3 How Are Venture
Partnerships Structured?
4 How Are Venture Capitalists
Compensated?
5 Does the Venture Capital
Structure Matter?
II Venture Capital Investing
6 An Overview of Venture
Capital Investing
7 Why Are Investments Staged?
8 How Do Venture Capitalists
Oversee Firms?
9 Why Do Venture Capitalists
Syndicate Investments?
III Exiting Venture Capital
Investments
10 An Overview of Exiting
Venture Capital Investments
11 Do Market Conditions
Affect the Decision to Go Public?
12 Does Reputation Affect the
Decision to Co Public?
13 Why Do Venture Capitalists
Distribute Shares?
14 How Well Do Venture-Backed
Offerings Perform?
15 The Future of the Venture
Capital Cycle
16 A Note on Data Sources
Venture Capital Glossary
369 pages