J. (Jitse) Duijsters MSc

Corporate venture capital refers to the phenomenon where large firms invest in young, entrepreneurial ventures, known as startups. Many of these collaborations take place in syndicates with independent investors, known as venture capitalists. These relationships are essential to the success of the investor and startup alike. However, these relationships are not necessarily stable; old relationships end, new relationships are formed, and existing ties are modified. In this dissertation, I study the antecedents and consequences of such change in inter-organizational networks through three interlinked studies. I contribute to research on corporate venturing and venture capital, change in social networks, and the dark side of inter-organizational relationships. I hope my work will help academics consider the conditions under which accusations of misconduct change a firm’s network, as well as the consequences of such change. Moreover, I believe my research can inform managers on how to manage change in inter-organizational relationships and create the right networking strategies.