Scout or coach? Value-added services as selection criteria in entrepreneurs’ venture capitalist selection

ABSTRACT In this paper, we draw upon resource dependence theory to investigate the impact of different types of value-added services on entrepreneurs’ venture capitalist selection. We use a mixed method research design based on a choice experiment with 3,172 decisions of 122 entrepreneurs in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and semi-structured interviews with the participating entrepreneurs. Our results indicate that entrepreneurs focus on selecting venture capitalists that act as scouts rather than as coaches. In particular, scouting activities such as the extension of the operational network and exit support are important for entrepreneurs in their selection process, whereas coaching activities such as strategic advice and help in internal business development are less relevant. Furthermore, entrepreneurs perceive value-added services as an active resource management tool to take advantage of interdependencies between their own and the venture capitalist’s resources, rather than as primarily filling their own resource gaps.