Kristin Burton, Michele Heath and William Luse
The study investigates the impact of various factors on the number of active investors in digital health startups. Through nine hypotheses, we examine the influence of metrics…
Abstract
Purpose
The study investigates the impact of various factors on the number of active investors in digital health startups. Through nine hypotheses, we examine the influence of metrics such as patents, online presence, financial aspects and company valuation on investor interest. The results reveal positive associations between these metrics and investor numbers, highlighting their role in signaling strength and attracting investment. This research enhances the understanding of investor valuation in digital health startups, emphasizing the importance of credible signals for building trust and securing funding. However, we acknowledge limitations in data analysis methods and suggest future research to explore industry signals, longitudinal trends and failed startups for comprehensive insights.
Design/methodology/approach
This study delves into the design methodology and approach, aiming to fill gaps in understanding investor roles in valuing digital health ventures. We focus on deciphering factors driving valuations for these startups to secure growth financing. Using signaling theory, we investigate how entrepreneurs communicate their latent strengths to bridge information gaps, aiding investment decisions. We analyze a sample of 482 healthcare startups from the Pitchbook database using Poisson regression in SPSS.
Findings
This research sheds light on the factors driving investor interest in digital health startups. Despite the critical role of entrepreneurs in patient care innovations, the relationship between investor characteristics and funding for digital health technologies still needs exploration. We examine factors influencing investor valuation in healthcare startups and identify patents, social followers and financial disclosures as pivotal elements shaping investor interest. The findings show that all factors for active investors are significant for all variables except similar unique visitors.
Originality/value
These results significantly enhance our understanding of investor decision-making in digital health startups. They confirm the importance of various signals, like patent activity, online presence and financial performance, in attracting investor attention. We utilize unique data sources, offering insights into investors' behavior across different funding stages. In conclusion, these findings underscore investors' crucial role in the growth and funding of healthcare tech startups, emphasizing the need for robust signals to attract investment.
Details
Keywords
Chantal van Esch, William Luse and Robert L. Bonner
This study examined the effects of gender and pandemic concerns on mentorship seeking behavior during the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examined the effects of gender and pandemic concerns on mentorship seeking behavior during the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its relationship to self-efficacy.
Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzes the data collected from 253 academics in a quantitative survey administered online.
Findings
Women and those with higher levels of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to seek mentorship. During this time of uncertainty role modeling was sought more than career support and psychosocial support. All three functions of mentorship seeking were positively associated with higher levels of self-efficacy.
Research limitations/implications
The present study finds that individuals turn to mentors when they are concerned about macro-level events (e.g. a global pandemic). Additionally, individuals who self-identify as women sought mentorship to a greater extent than men. In this way, it is not only the situation that matters (like women having fewer resources and more demands than men) but also the perception of a situation (like how concerned individuals were about the COVID-19 pandemic). Additionally, this paper helps to further develop the understanding of the mentorship function of role modeling.
Practical implications
Organizations and mentors ought to be cognizant of role modeling during times of crisis, especially for women, this may be counterintuitive to the inclination to provide career and psychosocial support for mentees.
Originality/value
This study examines the gendered implications for mentoring during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study specifically examines mentorship seeking behavior and its influence on self-efficacy during uncertain times.