Gateway into the world: The Influence of Venture Capital on Start-Up Growth Strategies.

Venture Capital (VC) plays a critical role in the internationalization of software companies, offering not just financial resources but also valuable social capital. This capital, defined as the sum of resources within and derived from a network of relationships, is crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises with limited resources. Studies highlight the importance of social networks in accessing market opportunities and the unique role of stakeholders in driving international growth. However, the specific influence of Venture Capitalists, especially in contrasting Silicon Valley's VC-funded firms with non-VC-funded German companies, remains underexplored. This research aims to bridge this gap, examining how VC impacts the international strategies of software companies and the role of various stakeholders in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]