Valuation of Angel-Backed Companies: The Role of Investor Human Capital

This article examines how angel investors' human capital affects the valuation of their portfolio companies, based on the pre-money valuation of 123 investment rounds in 58 Belgian companies. We argue that angel investors with higher levels of human capital will perceive a higher value-creating potential in entrepreneurial opportunities through their ability to see more value-creating options, a higher value-adding potential post-investment, and an enhanced legitimacy provided to the venture. Economic theories suggest they appropriate these rents through lower valuations, whereas stewardship theory suggests they share value creation with entrepreneurs. Consistent with stewardship theory, we show angel investors negotiate higher valuations when they have higher levels of human capital, more specifically if they studied longer, have a business degree, more entrepreneurial experience, or previous professional law experience. As such, our results contrast with the behavior of venture capital investors who negotiate lower valuations when they have more experience.