Unconventional start-ups encounter distinct challenges in professionalizing their operations compared to traditional ventures. Our project reveals that while venture capitalists (VCs) often advocate for standardization, many start-ups diverge from conventional practices, prioritizing external engagement and market positioning. Key findings suggest that ... Read More

For fledgling ventures, part of the growth process is to develop key systems, both external (such as marketing and sales) and internal (such as accounting and human resources). To date, most researchers have assumed that these systems develop uniformly as ventures scale and complete developmental milestones. According to HKUST’s Pavel I. Zhelyazkov and ... Read More

For fledgling ventures, part of the growth process is to develop key systems, both external (such as marketing and sales) and internal (such as accounting and human resources). To date, most researchers have assumed that these systems develop uniformly as ventures scale and complete developmental milestones. According to HKUST’s Pavel I. Zhelyazkov and ... Read More

The likelihood of venture capital (VC) firms’ forming partnerships with others is strongly influenced by their relative status, say HKUST’s Pavel I. Zhelyazkov and his co-author Adam Tatarynowicz (Singapore Management University). In a timely and incisive study, the authors investigate “status-asymmetric ties” to understand why and how unequal partners ... Read More

In this presentation, Prof Pavel Zhelyazkov will provide an overview of his research on how social networks shape venture capital (VC) firms’ syndication activities as well as access to deals and capital. In particular, he will examine how a VC firms’ behavior within syndicates shapes its access to subsequent investment opportunities; and how indirect social ... Read More

Two organizations are more likely to establish a connection if they have a pre-existing relationship with a common partner or intermediary—this is known as triadic closure and has long been of interest to scholars. However, all of the research up until this point has failed to take into account the importance of the intermediary in facilitating or even ... Read More

The venture capital (VC) industry plays an important role in supporting entrepreneurship and innovations in a range of industries. It functions as a gatekeeper, selecting promising new ventures for continued investment and support. It also serves as an intermediary, linking capital providers—large institutions such as endowments, foundations, and pension ... Read More