A Study on Determinants of Investment Decisions: A Venture Capitalist’s Perspective

Abstract

In recent period Indian economy has witnessed multi fold growth as compared to developed economies in the world. Overall growth registered by the Indian economy is the result of MSME sector’s performance and specifically growth in IT and IT enabled services, bio technology, banking and financial services, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing and retail businesses across the country. Technology driven businesses has attracted the attention of domestic and international investors due to increase in the use of IT enabled services by the majority of population in the country. Use of smartphones and internet penetration has provided ready platform for the sector to take out best of this opportunity. Ecommerce has provided the solution to the problems where the country was stacked since decades. Quality of higher education, entrepreneurial talent, risk taking ability of the younger generation and youth population in the nation has spur the growth of the sector. Information Technology industry has grown exponentially over last few years taking locational advantage of being in operation in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmadabad and Delhi. The important factor which has contributed to the growth of the sector is availability of risk capital in the form of Private Equity and Venture Capital leveraging debt requirement of the venture in start-up phase. PE and VC has played the critical role in the establishment of technology driven businesses in developed countries. Considering the growth of start-up economy, domestic and international PE investors and Venture Capitalists are now looking towards India as world’s fastest growing economy. This research analyses the growth of PE and VC investments in the country for last five years with the help of economic data. Research also highlights determinants affecting investments decision of an investor on the basis of the data collected through interview method from investment team members of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms. This will help entrepreneurs to understand the prerequisites of raising capital from Venture Capitalists and Private Equity investors.