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Angel investors’ predictive and control funding criteria: The importance of evolving business models

James M. Crick (Loughborough University School of Business and Economics, Loughborough, UK)
Dave Crick (Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada)

Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship

ISSN: 1471-5201

Article publication date: 16 March 2018

Issue publication date: 12 July 2018

1077

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the question involving what factors affect angel investors’ decision-making in funding new start-ups with specific reference to their evolving business models. Without funding and access to networks and experience, certain entrepreneurs will not get their business model through the start-up phase.

Design/methodology/approach

Data arise from 20 semi-structured interviews with angel investors in New Zealand plus supplementary interviews with business incubator managers and textual data.

Findings

The findings suggest a degree of causation-based decision-making, in that certain linear thinking was evident. The implication is that, without the ability of the entrepreneurs to convince the investors about key criteria in their decision-making, investment is unlikely. Nevertheless, a degree of effectuation-based decision-making was also evident, the implication being investors having to balance risk/reward decisions in the context of their own perceptions of affordable losses against an evolving business model. However, angel investors may take on co-investment, including from overseas, that takes decision-making away from management teams.

Originality/value

The study draws attention to the need to consider entrepreneurial ecosystems in angel investor’s decision-making and especially those with a small domestic market that may require management teams to look for scalability internationally. Furthermore, an effectuation lens contributes to knowledge in respect of predictive and control criteria, in particular, assessing risks and rewards against affordable losses involving an evolving business model.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the research assistance of Anna Samoylova.

Citation

Crick, J.M. and Crick, D. (2018), "Angel investors’ predictive and control funding criteria: The importance of evolving business models", Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 34-56. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRME-11-2016-0043

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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