EntrepreneurshipEnterprise finance

Whilst successful entrepreneurs typically create economic value in one form or another through new venture creation, typically as financial returns, they also rely on investment and finance to establish these new ventures. Our work explores the different types of finance that entrepreneurs can draw down, their relative strengths and the times at which these investments are most critical during the lifetime of the start-up.

Staff

Research

Matthew Hannon & Iain Cairns

Matthew Hannon and Dr Iain Cairns, through the UK Energy Research Centre’s Community Energy Finance project, have explored how novel combinations of finance (e.g. crowdfunding, community loans/loans), legal structures and business models have enabled communities to deliver their own energy projects without relying exclusively on government funding. Similarly, through his involvement with UKRI’s £10m EnergyREV consortium, Dr Matthew Hannon has explored the financial characteristics and performance of innovative forms of smart, locally led energy projects in the UK.

Suzanne Mawson

Suzanne Mawson’s work has explored a similar focus, examining the use of equity crowdfunding by environmental entrepreneurs, specifically renewable energy generators in the West of France.

Anna Spadavecchia

Anna Spadavecchia has examined the political economy of financing small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) (Political Economy) and the relationship between local banks and SMEs, as compared with the relationship between large banks and corporations (Small Businesses and Local Banks), in countries such as Italy.