J. Daniel Kim

Entrepreneurial Spawning Across Generations: How Organizational Experience Shapes First-Generation and Second-Generation Immigrant Entrepreneurship

Funded Research Proposal

This project studies how prior work experience shapes who becomes an entrepreneur, when they found companies, and how successful those ventures become. Focusing on first-generation immigrants, second-generation immigrants, and native-born workers in the US, the study compares careers that begin in large technology firms with those that start in early-stage startups. Using employment histories from Revelio Labs data linked with founding outcomes from Pitchbook & Crunchbase, the project sheds light on how different organizational pathways influence entrepreneurial activity and success across immigrant generations.…Read More

Strategic bootstrapping and startup experimentation

Funded Research Proposal

New ventures are grappling with the rising costs of capital (both debt and equity). As a result, investors of high-growth, technology-based startups are shifting focus to companies that can generate immediate cash. That is, investors are prioritizing cash flow positivity over growth. A recent report has documented that high-growth, technology-driven startups that are bootstrapped outperformed those that are VC-backed on both profitability and growth. Yet, the reason for this performance differential is poorly understood given that bootstrapping is an underexplored phenomenon due to the unavailability of large datasets to answer important questions. Through this study, we first seek to build a large, novel dataset that can facilitate research on bootstrapping. In addition, we immediately respond to two important questions pertaining to why bootstrapped startups may be better able to manage the balance between cash flow positivity and growth…Read More

Career Effects of Venture Capital on High-Technology Startup Employees

Funded Research Proposal

Venture capital (VC) significantly contributes to job creation and innovation in high-tech startups, with around 50% of tech companies reaching IPOs in the past three decades having VC backing. While the benefits of VC on startups and regional economies are well-documented, its impact on individual career trajectories remains underexplored. This research proposal investigates how VC financing influences employee turnover and career progression within startups. VC investment can lead to higher wages and faster promotions, enhancing employee value. However…Read More