| dc.description.abstract | This thesis aims at gaining an understanding of the mechanisms behind obtaining the
necessary funding for an innovative startup in both Norway and the USA. The main focus is
to identify areas where the two markets differ in terms of accessibility to different sources of
funding, underlying causes for this, and to give some insight into what implications these
differences have in regards to entrepreneurial activity and innovation. Are there clear
differences between the perceived ease of acquiring capital from an entrepreneur's point of
view; how do comparable capital-providing institutions stand towards supporting innovative
startups; and can the accessibility to capital contribute to explaining the difference in the
degree of entrepreneurial activity between two countries that are in many ways very similar?
Hence the research question is: Are there any differences in the accessibility of capital for
innovative startups between Norway and the USA, and what implications may these
differences have? To gain such insight we found it most purposeful to construct a qualitative
research method, using personal interviews with individuals behind innovative startups,
individuals in relevant positions in institutions that support startups financially, and other
individuals possessing expertise on this particular subject. By doing so, we aimed at
obtaining data that could shed light on this research questions from several perspectives,
which was beneficial as it allowed for a nuanced analysis. These data were analyzed up
against relevant theory from several researchers within the academic fields we have found to
be applicable.
A number of interesting findings have been uncovered while examining the research
question of this thesis. Gaps in both capital markets have been identified, where Norway
lacks Series A capital and onwards, while Silicon Valley lacks external capital in the very
earliest stages resulting in a greater reliance on self-financing among entrepreneurs. It is also
evident that the culture of Silicon Valley has shaped their entrepreneurial environment, and
vice versa, resulting in a self-contained ecosystem whose conditions facilitate
entrepreneurial activities. This is particularly evident in how it is simpler for entrepreneurs to
build and maintain their social and human capital in Silicon Valley, which is advantageous
when seeking to obtain external financial capital. | nb_NO |
