This review assesses the academic literature of recent years on the financing issues faced by technology-based small firms (TBSFs). It was produced as part of the latest report on these firms by the Bank’s Domestic Finance Division, published last month. This report finds that, while there may still be market weaknesses in the provision of relatively small amounts of risk capital to TBSFs at the start-up and early stages, these appear to be less than four or five years ago, and to impact on TBSFs less than was the case then. Peter Brierley, Head of Domestic Finance Division, explains why the literature suggests that market imperfections in the provision of finance to small companies may apply with particular force to the start-up and early-stage financing of TBSFs, but concludes that there is little compelling evidence of a major market failure.
The financing of technology-based small firms: a review of the literature