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Peter Gloor. Hadley, Beth M Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 2018-01-12T20:59:53Z 2018-01-12T20:59:53Z 2017 2017 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/113149 1018306746 Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2017. This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 79-82). In this thesis, we study the impact of venture capitalists on startup success using social network analysis. Using multiple sources, we compile a unique dataset of 3199 US-based technology startups and their board members, from which we generate and analyze the interlocking directorates network (formal network) and Twitter network (informal network). We find that startups with more VC board members are more central in the formal network, receive greater funding, have greater annual sales, yet a smaller return-on-investment. We also find that VCs are more central in the Twitter network than non-VCs, have greater Twitter popularity, yet tweet significantly less. Our results indicate that VCs carry a considerable amount of financial and social capital, which they transmit to the startups they invest in, yet their participation leads to lower startup ROI. Additionally, our dataset enabled us to investigate more general questions regarding startup success, including gender diversity on startup boards.. by Beth M. Hadley. M.Eng. 82 pages eng Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Analyzing VC influence on startup success : a people-centric network theory approach Analyzing venture capitol influence on startup success : a people-centric network theory approach Thesis application/pdf false Publication unknown unknown <Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="0fde1c37-ee03-4769-8d2c-2120a49a9848"> <Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type> <Language>eng</Language> <Title>Analyzing VC influence on startup success : a people-centric network theory approach</Title> <Subtitle>Analyzing venture capitol influence on startup success : a people-centric network theory approach</Subtitle> <PublishedIn> <Publication> </Publication> </PublishedIn> <PublicationDate>2017</PublicationDate> <Authors> <Author> <DisplayName>Hadley, Beth M</DisplayName> <Affiliation> <OrgUnit> </OrgUnit> </Affiliation> </Author> </Authors> <Editors> </Editors> <Publishers> <Publisher> <DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName> <OrgUnit /> </Publisher> </Publishers> <License>http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582</License> <Keyword>Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.</Keyword> <Abstract>In this thesis, we study the impact of venture capitalists on startup success using social network analysis. Using multiple sources, we compile a unique dataset of 3199 US-based technology startups and their board members, from which we generate and analyze the interlocking directorates network (formal network) and Twitter network (informal network). We find that startups with more VC board members are more central in the formal network, receive greater funding, have greater annual sales, yet a smaller return-on-investment. We also find that VCs are more central in the Twitter network than non-VCs, have greater Twitter popularity, yet tweet significantly less. Our results indicate that VCs carry a considerable amount of financial and social capital, which they transmit to the startups they invest in, yet their participation leads to lower startup ROI. Additionally, our dataset enabled us to investigate more general questions regarding startup success, including gender diversity on startup boards..</Abstract> <Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right" > </Access> </Publication>