The role of foreign venture capital and foreign business angels in start-ups’ early internationalization: The case of Polish ICT start-ups

Objective: The objective of the article is to examine the role of foreign venture capital and foreign business angels in companies’ early internationalization based on the example of Polish ICT start-ups.Research Design Methods: We based the scientific argument on an analysis of the existing state of knowledge in this area and the empirical research conducted among 220 Polish start-ups, which founded our logistic regression model.Findings: Based on the study, a positive relationship exists between the involvement of foreign venture capital funds in start-ups and their early internationalization.Implications Recommendations: Start-ups should cooperate with foreign institutions, such as venture capital funds, as their knowledge and experience can be a source of start-ups’ early internationalization. We recommend that scholars conduct further in-depth panel studies on the impact of foreign invest- ment funds on the early internationalization process.Contribution Value Added: The article covers research yet to be undertaken in research analyses in early internationalization and can serve as a starting point for further in-depth studies of the phenom- enon, also based on start-ups from other countries.