Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population data

Business angels dominate early-stage investment in firms, but research on their effects on firms is scarce and limited by sample selection. To address sample selection, we propose using population data and we develop an algorithm for identifying business angel investments in such data. We illustrate...

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Main Authors: Magnus Lodefalk, Fredrik W. Andersson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2023-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10062610/?tool=EBI
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author Magnus Lodefalk
Fredrik W. Andersson
author_facet Magnus Lodefalk
Fredrik W. Andersson
author_sort Magnus Lodefalk
collection DOAJ
description Business angels dominate early-stage investment in firms, but research on their effects on firms is scarce and limited by sample selection. To address sample selection, we propose using population data and we develop an algorithm for identifying business angel investments in such data. We illustrate this novel approach by applying it to detailed and longitudinal total population data for individuals and firms in Sweden. In our application, we focus on a subset of business angels—active business angels who are themselves successful entrepreneurs with a profitable exit. We then study active business angels’ effects on firm performance, using population data. Employing a quasi-experimental estimator, we find that the business angels invest in firms that already perform above par. There is also a positive effect on subsequent growth compared with control firms. However, contrary to previous research on business angels, we cannot find any impact on firm survival. Overall, the paper underlines the need to address sample selection when studying business angels and suggests using population data for identification.
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spelling doaj.art-7bf08b4422444b7f8b4ec9b9e99717fd2023-04-05T05:31:55ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01183Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population dataMagnus LodefalkFredrik W. AnderssonBusiness angels dominate early-stage investment in firms, but research on their effects on firms is scarce and limited by sample selection. To address sample selection, we propose using population data and we develop an algorithm for identifying business angel investments in such data. We illustrate this novel approach by applying it to detailed and longitudinal total population data for individuals and firms in Sweden. In our application, we focus on a subset of business angels—active business angels who are themselves successful entrepreneurs with a profitable exit. We then study active business angels’ effects on firm performance, using population data. Employing a quasi-experimental estimator, we find that the business angels invest in firms that already perform above par. There is also a positive effect on subsequent growth compared with control firms. However, contrary to previous research on business angels, we cannot find any impact on firm survival. Overall, the paper underlines the need to address sample selection when studying business angels and suggests using population data for identification.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10062610/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Magnus Lodefalk
Fredrik W. Andersson
Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population data
PLoS ONE
title Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population data
title_full Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population data
title_fullStr Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population data
title_full_unstemmed Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population data
title_short Business angels and firm performance: First evidence from population data
title_sort business angels and firm performance first evidence from population data
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10062610/?tool=EBI
work_keys_str_mv AT magnuslodefalk businessangelsandfirmperformancefirstevidencefrompopulationdata
AT fredrikwandersson businessangelsandfirmperformancefirstevidencefrompopulationdata