Financing Entrepreneurial Ventures in Europe: The Vico Dataset

Abstract

The VICO project collected a database on young high-tech entrepreneurial companies operating in seven European countries (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom). The objective of the data collection process was to build a data infrastructure to conduct an extensive study about the venture capital (VC) activity in high-tech sectors in Europe. The dataset includes two strata of companies: the first is a sample of VC-backed companies and the second a control group of non-VC backed (but potentially investable) companies. Data were collected by local teams from each country (using a variety of commercial and proprietary sources) and checked for reliability and consistency by a centralized data collection unit. The dataset consists of 8,370 companies, 759 of which VC-backed, and 1,125 VC investors. Detailed information was collected for each firm, investor, and investment, including accounting data, patenting data, and investor type and experience.

Keywords: Venture capital, Europe, 7th Framework program, Data collection, young high-tech companies

JEL Classification: Y10, G24, G32