Paul A. Gompers

Financing the Entrepreneurial Venture focuses on financial management within entrepreneurial firms. Most of these are young firms, although some are more established. The book examines these firms at all phases of their life cycle, from the initial idea generation to the ultimate harvesting of the venture. The book covers firms in a diverse set of industries including high technology, low technology and services. A significant fraction of the cases focus on non-U. S. ventures. Additionally, the issues of gender and diversity are addressed in a number of settings.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. This Advanced Introduction provides an illustrative guide to private equity, integrating insights from academic research with examples to derive practical recommendations. Paul Gompers and Steven Kaplan begin by reviewing the history of private equity then exploring the evidence on performance of private equity investments at both the portfolio company level and fund level, documenting the creation of economic value. The book then presents a set of actionable frameworks for driving value creation in private equity investments. It concludes by examining how private equity investors raise funds and how they successfully manage their private equity firms. Key Features: Explains what private equity investors do and how they do itIncludes a detailed discussion of career paths in private equityLinks real world examples that illustrate insights from academic researchProvides an overview of the private equity industry from individual investments to fundraising to firm managementThis Advanced Introduction is an excellent resource for investment bankers and consultants as well as prospective investors who are looking for a comprehensive yet succinct introduction to the topic. Scholars interested in the fields of finance and private equity will find the research and case studies informative and enlightening.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. This Advanced Introduction provides an illustrative guide to private equity, integrating insights from academic research with examples to derive practical recommendations. Paul Gompers and Steven Kaplan begin by reviewing the history of private equity then exploring the evidence on performance of private equity investments at both the portfolio company level and fund level, documenting the creation of economic value. The book then presents a set of actionable frameworks for driving value creation in private equity investments. It concludes by examining how private equity investors raise funds and how they successfully manage their private equity firms. Key Features: Explains what private equity investors do and how they do itIncludes a detailed discussion of career paths in private equityLinks real world examples that illustrate insights from academic researchProvides an overview of the private equity industry from individual investments to fundraising to firm managementThis Advanced Introduction is an excellent resource for investment bankers and consultants as well as prospective investors who are looking for a comprehensive yet succinct introduction to the topic. Scholars interested in the fields of finance and private equity will find the research and case studies informative and enlightening.

Entrepreneurial Finance: A Casebook provides students with a thorough understanding of entrepreneurial finance through the use of cases based on realistic situations. This case approach allows students to gain insight into the real world of entrepreneurial finance while sharpening their analytical skills. The cases are organized according to four major topics critical to a thorough understanding of entrepreneurial finance: Investment Analysis, Financing the Entrepreneurial Firm, Harvesting, and Renewal in the Entreprenurial Firm.

When the economy was booming and dot-coms were flying high, venture capitalists were admired as impresarios of innovation. Then the market tanked, start-ups fizzled, and those same deal-makers were rebuked as predators out for a quick score. So which portrayal is accurate? Where is this much-hyped industry heading? And what will it mean for the future of innovation in the global economy? In this definitive book, industry experts Paul Gompers and Josh Lerner provide the first cool-headed explanation of the venture capital industry and the role it plays in our economy. They underscore that, regardless of the economic conditions, innovation is incredibly difficult to finance, take to market, and translate into value. While venture capital has evolved to address these problems - the industry has fueled innovation, economic growth, and wealth creation for decades - features of the venture industry have left it vulnerable to boom-and-bust cycles. In the near future, say the authors, the industry must transform dramatically, with important implications for industry players and the entrepreneurs and organizations they serve. Drawing from compelling research and industry "war stories," Gompers and Lerner present a series of practical frameworks for understanding the relationships among venture capital, innovation, and entrepreneurial success. They demystify how the venture capital world operates, and outline the opportunities and obstacles faced by all players in this evolving arena. They explore: the problems entrepreneurs encounter in securing financing, and how the venture capital model can help innovators to resolve them; how venture capitalists can effectively pursue promising opportunities while building a sustainable franchise; and, how corporations, nonprofits, and government institutions can harness the power - and avoid the pitfalls - of the venture capital model when applying it in their own sectors. Whether the industry is enjoying an incredible growth spurt or weathering an economic slowdown, readers will find this book an immensely practical guide to leveraging the venture capital model to turn innovation into value. Paul A. Gompers is a Professor of Business Administration and a Director of Research at Harvard Business School. Josh Lerner is a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Both authors live in the Boston area.