Promoting novelty creation: The role of ownership distribution in new venture teams
Zeitschrift:
Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal
Jahrgang:
20
Heftnummer:
2
Verlag:
Wiley
Jahr:
2026
Seitenbereich:
325-354
Sprache:
Englisch
Abstract:
Abstract Research Summary How is the ownership distribution in
new venture teams (NVTs) related to the novelty of a firm's
inventions? Using an abductive approach and analyzing 5114
projects from 2148 German firms, we find higher novelty when a
majority owner is among the NVT members and when members of NVTs
with unequal ownership splits participate directly in inventive
projects. Our empirical facts and interview evidence suggest
that unequal splits enhance decision‐making mandates, enabling
NVTs to avoid consensus deadlocks and empowering owner‐inventors
to foster novelty. Notably, the ownership split within the NVT
appeared to matter more for novelty than the specific share held
by owner‐inventors. These insights contribute to our
understanding of the interplay among intra‐team ownership,
organizational governance, inventor‐entrepreneurs, and
innovative outcomes in entrepreneurial ventures. Managerial
Summary At incorporation, new venture teams (NVTs) decide how to
divide ownership among themselves. The distribution can vary
from equal shares to a majority ownership structure. Ownership
distribution can influence how NVTs make decisions under
uncertainty and how independently individual NVT members can
implement their idiosyncratic technological ideas. Our
quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that
concentrating ownership with majority owners promotes more
radical innovations, while an equal distribution entails the
risk of leading only to incremental advances. Additionally, in
NVTs with unequal ownership distribution, the participation of
NVT members in R&D activities promoted novelty. Therefore, NVTs
should carefully consider the implications for decision‐making
when determining their ownership distribution, as it can be a
strategic tool for promoting innovation.