Séminaire GREDEG : Marta ZAVA (Universita Bocconi)

Abstract: This talk explores the mechanisms through which financial agents—particularly venture capitalists (VC)—acquire influence in capital markets. Drawing on empirical insights, it highlights how influence translates into preferential deal access, superior exit outcomes, and enhanced long-term performance. Central to the accumulation of influence is not the success of individual portfolio companies, but rather the identity of co-investors: being backed by an already influential VC emerges as the most powerful predictor of gaining influence oneself.
The presentation will also introduce the Funding Attraction Index, a novel metric designed to capture the likelihood that VC-backed startups will secure subsequent funding rounds. In addition to presenting this index, the talk will offer a broader overview of venture capital network structures and their strategic implications. Finally, it will outline emerging applications of network-based artificial intelligence in capital markets, emphasizing their potential for reshaping investment decision-making and influence dynamics.