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Article
The Dynamic Impact of Innovative Capability and Inter-firm Network on Firm Valuation: A Longitudinal Study of Biotechnology Start-ups
Journal of Business Venturing
  • Yanfeng ZHENG, Clemson University
  • Jing LIU, Cornerstone Research
  • Gerard GEORGE, Singapore Management University
Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
11-2010
Abstract

Prior research suggests that a high technology start-up's innovative capability and inter-firm network influence its performance and consequently, firm valuation. Few studies consider their joint influence and even fewer consider the temporal change of those effects on firm valuation. In this study, we propose that firm age, a key organizational variable, represents both the development of organizational routines from a start-up's perspective and the accumulation of accessible information from an investor's viewpoint. As such, an investor's evaluation of a high technology start-up's innovative capability and inter-firm network evolves with firm age. Using panel data of 170 biotechnology start-ups, our results suggest that the relative value of network status declines while the impact of innovative capability increases with firm age. Interestingly, there is a growing complementary effect of innovative capability and network heterogeneity on firm valuation. The implications of these findings for entrepreneurial practice and theories of firm capabilities and inter-firm network are discussed.

Keywords
  • Capabilities,
  • Absorptive capacity,
  • Alliances,
  • R&D,
  • Valuation
Identifier
10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.02.001
Publisher
Elsevier
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.02.001
Citation Information
Yanfeng ZHENG, Jing LIU and Gerard GEORGE. "The Dynamic Impact of Innovative Capability and Inter-firm Network on Firm Valuation: A Longitudinal Study of Biotechnology Start-ups" Journal of Business Venturing Vol. 25 Iss. 6 (2010) p. 593 - 609 ISSN: 0883-9026
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/gerard-george/89/