From Start-Up to Acquisition: Implications of Financial Investment Trends for Small-to-Medium-Sized High Tech Enterprises
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
Publication Title
Journal of Small Business Strategy
Volume
29
Issue
2
Pages
22-43
Abstract
The high-technology (high-tech) industry is a dynamic environment defined by both frequent changes in composition and a concentration of market power through consolidation. Operating as a new or small venture within this environment poses many complex challenges, especially when considering the financial resources needed to be successful. In their efforts to obtain financial resources, entrepreneurs often overlook how the choice and pattern of investment funding to maintain a growth path can later affect a successful entrepreneurial exit. Exit via acquisition for small- to medium-sized technology enterprises (SMTEs) is a strong area of interest given firms in the U.S. high-tech industry experience the fastest growth rates and have been the target of over $400 billion in deal volume and 20% of all merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions in the last twenty years. Much of this M&A activity is conducted by five prominent firms, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, commonly referred to as the Fearsome Five or the “FANGS”. However, as there has been only limited research examining this unique M&A context, in this study we explore the investment funding factors influencing exit via acquisition by the Fearsome Five. We highlight questions and potential concerns for SMTEs given the trends in financial investments and increasing market power.
ORCID
0000-0002-3734-3969 (Irwin)
Original Publication Citation
Irwin, K. C., Gilstrap, C. M., Drnevich, P. L., & Tudor, C. M. (2019). From start-up to acquisition: Implications of financial investment trends for small-to medium-sized high-tech enterprises. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 29(2), 22-43. https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/index.php/jsbs/article/view/1387
Repository Citation
Irwin, Kristin C.; Gilstrap, Collin M.; Drnevich, Paul L.; and Tudor, Chane M., "From Start-Up to Acquisition: Implications of Financial Investment Trends for Small-to-Medium-Sized High Tech Enterprises" (2019). Management Faculty Publications. 48.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/management_fac_pubs/48
Comments
"Publisher hereby grants Author a royalty-free, limited license for the following purposes, provided the Work is always identified as having first been published by Publisher.
•The right to use and distribute the Work on the Author(s)’s Web site and on the Author(s)’s university’s institute repository; Such license shall be effective when the Work is first published in the Journal of Small Business Strategy."