Skip to main content

Managing Transparency and Legitimacy in Startups

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
New Frontiers in Entrepreneurial Fundraising

Abstract

In recent years, society and companies have faced numerous crises, which have devastated not only the economy but also the confidence of stakeholders, especially that of investors and funders. This fact has resulted in entrepreneurs fighting to raise funds for their projects, regardless of the life phase of their projects. In this sense, the scientific evidence literature indicates that reducing the asymmetry of information between a company and a funder or investor is necessary. The responsible management of companies and how they disclose non-financial information translates into an improvement in transparency, having an impact on reputation, image, legitimacy, and results and therefore on improving access to new funds and better conditions. This chapter discusses the importance of transparency as a form of engagement with stakeholders and especially with funders. The development of new technologies acts in favor of transparency in that society can obtain information from companies at the click of a button. That is why companies must maintain an attitude of resilience to changes in the environment. So, the challenge is to know how to use these variables to their advantage, that is, how appropriate use of information and transparency allows them to send positive signals to an increasingly demanding market with companies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Acreditra (2016) “Principales resultados recogidos en el Segundo Barómetro de la Transparencia de España 2016 desarrollado por Acreditra”. Disponible en: http://acreditra.com

  • Akerlof GA (1970) 4. The market for ‘lemons’: quality uncertainty and the market mechanism. Market Failure or Success, 66

    Google Scholar 

  • Alejos CL (2015) Transparencia: fuente de confianza en la empresa”, Cuadernos de la Cátedra “la Caixa” de Responsabilidad Social de la Empresa y Gobierno Corporativo, 27: 1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Arredondo TFG, De la Garza GJ, Vázquez PJC (2014) Transparencia en las organizaciones, una aproximación desde la perspectiva de los colaboradores. Estudios Gerenciales 30:408–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bañon A, Guillen M, Ramon N (2011) La empresa ética y responsable. Universia Business Review 30:32–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Baraibar Diez E, Luna Sotorrío L (2018) The mediating effect of transparency in the relationship between corporate social responsibility and corporate reputation. RBGN-Revista Brasileira de Gestao de Negocios 20(1):5–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Baraibar E, Luna L (2012) The influence of transparency of university social responsibility in the creation of reputation. Reg Sect Econ Stud 12(3):21–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Barauskaite G, Streimikiene D (2020) Corporate social responsibility and financial performance of companies: the puzzle of concepts, definitions and assessment methods. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manag 28(1):278–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumann D (2016) Corporate social responsibility in a globalizing world. Bus Ethics Q 26(1):137–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck T (2013) Bank financing for SMEs–lessons from the literature. Natl Inst Econ Rev 225(1):23–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger AN, Udell GF (1998) The economics of small business finance: the roles of private equity and debt markets in the financial growth cycle. J Bank Financ 22(6-8):613–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg BF, Letterie WA (2008) Business starters and credit rationing. Small Bus Econ 30(2):187–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonilla-Priego MJ, Benítez-Hernández P (2017) El diálogo con los grupos de interés en las memorias de sostenibilidad del sector hotelero español. Revista de Contabilidad – Spanish Accounting Review 20(2):157–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canales JM, Romero A (2017) Algunas consideraciones sobre la transparencia pública y el buen gobierno. Revista Española de Transparencia 5:115–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter RE, Petersen BC (2002) Capital market imperfections, high-tech investment, and new equity financing. Econ J 112(477):F54–F72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassar G (2004) The financing of business start-ups. J Bus Ventur 19(2):261–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cupertino S, Vitale G, Ruggiero P (2022) Performance and (non) mandatory disclosure: the moderating role of the Directive 2014/95/EU. J Appl Acc Res 23(1):163–183. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-04-2021-0115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Meza D, Webb DC (1987) Too much investment: a problem of asymmetric information. Q J Econ 102(2):281–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del-Castillo-Feito C, Blanco-González A, Hernández-Perlines F (2022) The impacts of socially responsible human resources management on organizational legitimacy. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 174:121274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denis DJ (2004) Entrepreneurial finance: an overview of the issues and evidence. J Corp Finan 10(2):301–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz JC, Fernández-Portillo A, Sánchez-Escobedo MC, Hernández-Mogollón R (2014) Estructura intelectual del fracas empresarial. Faedpyme international review 3(5):43–55. http://hdl.handle.net/10317/4354

    Google Scholar 

  • Diebold FX, Doherty NA, Herring RJ (2010) The known, the unknown, and the unknowable in financial risk management: measurement and theory advancing practice. Princeton University Press

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Díez F, Blanco A, Cruz AI, Prado C (2014) Efecto de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial sobre la Legitimidad de las Empresas. Anuario Jurídico y Económico Escurialense 47

    Google Scholar 

  • El Akremi A, Gond JP, Swaen V, De Roeck K, Igalens J (2018) How do employeesperceive corporate responsibility? Development and validation of a multidimensional corporatestakeholder responsibility scale. J Manag 44(2):619–657

    Google Scholar 

  • Escamilla-Casado S, Plaza-Casado P, Flores-Ureba S (2016) Análisis de la divulgación de la información sobre la responsabilidad social corporativa en las empresas de transporte público urbano en España. Revista de Contabilidad – Spanish. Account Rev 19(2):195–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Escamilla-Solano S, Fernández-Portillo A, Paule-Vianez J, Plaza-Casado P (2019) Effect of the disclosure of corporate social responsibility on business profitability. A dimensional analysis in the Spanish stock market. Sustainability 11(23):6732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Portillo A, Díaz-Casero JC, Sánchez-Escobedo MC, Hernández-Mogollón R (2018) Conocimiento certificado del fracas empresarial: un análisis bibliométrico del periodo 1965-2012. Espacios 40(16):18–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Foss NJ, Klein PG (2012) Organizing entrepreneurial judgment: a new approach to the firm. Cambridge University Press

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Freel MS (2007) Are small innovators credit rationed? Small Bus Econ 28(1):23–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman RE (1984) Strategic management: a stakeholder approach. Pitman, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Gálvez RMM, Caba PMC, López GM (2009) La Transparencia On-line de las ONG Españolas. Revista Española del Tercer Sector 13(SeptiembreDiciembre):63–86

    Google Scholar 

  • García LMJ, Amat O, Rocafort A (2016) Self-perception of ethical behaviour: the case of listed Spanish companies. Intangible Capital 12(1):319–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh C, Guha S (2014) Do micro enterprises choose microfinance institutions to meet their financial needs? Evidence from Mumbai slums. J Dev Entrep 19(3):1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbins M, Richardson A, Waterhouse J (1990) The management of corporate financial disclosures: opportunism, ritualism, policies and processes. J Account Res 28(1):121–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hemer J. (2011) A snapshot on crowdfunding. Working papers firms and region, R2/2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoyos-Iruarrizaga J, Fernández-Sainz A, Saiz-Santos M (2017) High value-added business angels at post-investment stages: key predictors. Int Small Bus J 35(8):949–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyos-Iruarrizaga J, Saiz-Santos M (2010) Financiacion del proceso emprendedor: particularidades en las nuevas iniciativas de base innovadora. European Academic Publishers, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang L, Pearce JL (2015) Managing the unknowable: the effectiveness of early-stage investor gut feel in entrepreneurial investment decisions. Adm Sci Q 60(4):634–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaworski J (2012) Demand for financial information in small business management. Empirical Study " e-Finanse" 8(3):10–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr W, & Nanda R. (2009) Financing constraints and entrepreneurship. WP n° 15498. National Bureau of Economic Research

    Google Scholar 

  • Kliksberg B (2003) La ética importa. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia 8(24):661–665

    Google Scholar 

  • Kliksberg B (2006) “Ética empresarial: ¿Moda o demanda imparable?”, Fundación Carolina, Working Papers

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight FH (1921). 1921. Risk, uncertainty and profit. Boston/New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Krasniqi BA (2010) Are small firms really credit constrained? Empirical evidence from kosova. Int Entrep Manag J 6(4):459–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lev B (1992) Information disclosure strategy. Calif Manag Rev 34(Summer):9–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipovetsky G (2006) Metamorfosis de la cultura liberal. Ética, medios de comunicación, empresa. Anagrama, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • López MV, Garcia A, Rodriguez L (2007) Sustainable development and corporate performance: A study based on the Dow Jones sustainability index. J Bus Ethics 75(3):285–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9253-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahagaonkar P (2009) Money and ideas: four studies on finance, innovation and the business life cycle (vol. 25). Springer Science & Business Media

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcuello C, Bellostas A, Marcuello C, Moneva JM (2007) Transparencia y rendición de cuentas de cuentas en las empresas de inserción. Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa 59:91–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Méndez M (2005) Ética y responsabilidad social corporativa. Ética y Economía. ICE 823:141–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Minola T, Giorgino M (2008) Who's going to provide the funding for high tech start-ups? A model for the analysis of determinants with a fuzzy approach. R&D Manag 38(3):335–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro García F (2008) Responsabilidad Social Corporativa: Teoría y Práctica. ESIC EDITORIAL

    Google Scholar 

  • Ntanos S, Kyriakopoulos G, Chalikias M, Arabatzis G, Skordoulis M, Galatsidas S, Drosos D (2018) A social assessment of the usage of renewable energy sources and its contribution to life quality: the case of an Attica urban area in Greece. Sustainability 10(5):1414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olmedo I, Martínez IM (2011) Medida de la reputación empresarial en PYMES de servicios. Revista Europea de Dirección y Economía de la Empresa 20(3):77–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Palacín-Sánchez MJ, Di Pietro F (2016) The role of the regional financial sector in the capital structure of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Reg Stud 50(7):1232–1247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piechocki R (2004) Transparency of annual sustainability reports. Corp Reput Rev 7(2):107–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter ME, Kramer MR (2003) La filantropía empresarial como ventaja competitiva. Harvard Deusto Business Review 112:7–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Prado C (1995) Globalización de la empresa e integración de los enfoques no organizativos en la dirección”, RACEF: 8

    Google Scholar 

  • Prado-Roman A, Plaza-Casado P, Escamilla-Solano S, Cruz-Suárez A (2018) La identificación de la transparencia como una herramienta de diferenciación en el sector bancario español. Revista Española de la Transparencia 7:99–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riding, A., Orser, B. and Chamberli, T. (2012). Ventur Cap, Vol. 14, n° 2–3, pp. 199–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz M, Tirado P, y Morales, A. (2008) Transparencia y calidad de la información económico-financiera en las entidades no lucrativas. Un estudio empírico a nivel andaluz. Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa 63:253–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Shane S (2012) The importance of angel investing in financing the growth of entrepreneurial ventures. Q J Finance 2:2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ştefănescu CA, Tiron-Tudor A, Moise EM (2021) EU non-financial reporting research – insights, gaps, patterns and future agenda. J Bus Econ Manag 22(1):257–276. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2020.13479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomczak A, Brem A (2013) A conceptualized investment model of crowdfunding. Ventur Cap 15:335–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toms JS (2002) Firms resources, quality signals and the determinants of corporate environmental reputation: some UK evidence. Br Account Rev 34(3):257–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torelli, R. (2020). “Sustainability, responsibility and ethics: different concepts for a single path”. Soc Responsib J, 17 (%), 719-739

    Google Scholar 

  • Valderrama JA (2007) Reflexiones en torno a la RS de las empresas. Teoría y Praxis 3:125–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vega M, Di Pietro F, Alfalla R (2017) Emprendimiento, financiación para los emprendedores y creación de empleo: evidencias a través de datos de panel. WPOM: Working Papers on Operations Management 8(2):44–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Villanueva E (2011) “Aproximaciones conceptuales a la idea de transparencia”, en Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información Pública (IFAI), Transparencia: libros, autores e ideas. Coyoacán: IFAI, 57-65

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson A, Shrives P, Marston C (2002) Voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios in the UK. British Accounting Review 34:289–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Fernández-Portillo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Escamilla-Solano, S., Fernández-Portillo, A., de la Fuente Flores, J. (2023). Managing Transparency and Legitimacy in Startups. In: Sendra-Pons, P., Garzon, D., Revilla-Camacho, MÁ. (eds) New Frontiers in Entrepreneurial Fundraising. Contributions to Finance and Accounting. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33994-3_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics