It was not that long ago that it might have been possible to cover the topic of venture capital in one paper. Now, it is not possible to provide comprehensive coverage in even one book. The industry has flourished, as variations of he initial venture capital funds have been developed and now operates in most developing and developed economies. This is clearly reflected in this volume, which has a strong focus on Europe and Asia. Each of the papers is a stand alone effort. However, a full reading of the volume provides a panoramic picture of the global extent of venture capital, some of its challenges, and the likely direction of future efforts. Venture capital and the venture capitalist have been shown to have a positive impact on performance in many cases. This is clearly the reason why some many emerging economies want to increase the level of venture capital investment in their country.

Despite a number of success stories presented in the media, not all habitual entrepreneurs (entrepreneurs who have owned at least two businesses) are consistently successful. This book is inspired by the apparent dearth of rigorous research to underpin - or in some cases challenge - the popular perception of habitual entrepreneurs. It seeks to address the gap in the literature by shedding light on the phenomenon of habitual entrepreneurship. Deniz Ucbasaran, Paul Westhead and Mike Wright use a combination of theory and empirical evidence to illustrate why it is so important for researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to distinguish between novice (i.e. first time) entrepreneurs and habitual entrepreneurs. Issues tackled include human capital characteristics, information search and opportunity identification behaviours, and the performance of different types of entrepreneurs. The book also highlights the heterogeneity of habitual entrepreneurs by drawing attention to serial and portfolio entrepreneurs. Developing a conceptual framework and an agenda for future research, Habitual Entrepreneurs will prove a significant reference tool for academics, students and researchers with an interest in entrepreneurship and SMEs. Its systematic analysis of the role of prior entrepreneurial experience in the venturing process will also be invaluable to practitioners such as policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors.

It was not that long ago that it might have been possible to cover the topic of venture capital in one paper. Now, it is not possible to provide comprehensive coverage in even one book. The industry has flourished, as variations of he initial venture capital funds have been developed and now operates in most developing and developed economies. This is clearly reflected in this volume, which has a strong focus on Europe and Asia. Each of the papers is a stand alone effort. However, a full reading of the volume provides a panoramic picture of the global extent of venture capital, some of its challenges, and the likely direction of future efforts. Venture capital and the venture capitalist have been shown to have a positive impact on performance in many cases. This is clearly the reason why some many emerging economies want to increase the level of venture capital investment in their country.