Succeeding in a hypercompetitive world: VC advice for smaller companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine certain venture capital (VC) practices that conventional company managers might adopt to improve effectiveness when faced with increasing competition. Design/methodology/approach – Based on current VC research, the paper isolates certain practices that are particularly effective in hypercompetitive contexts. Findings – If managers see their companies differently – not as monolithic entities but rather as a combination of different business models, some nascent, some mature, a portfolio of current opportunities with potential offshoots – managers can implement practices to increase the company's ability to survive and potentially thrive in a hypercompetitive environment. Originality/value – Venture capitalists guide companies through important transitions in turbulent contexts. This article isolates and analyses their practices, so as to allow them to be transposed to a more conventional business context.