Paola HellmalmPhD student

About me

I am a PhD student at Stockholm Business School since the autumn of 2022, enrolled in the Doctoral Program in Business Administration in the accounting section. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Accounting, both from Stockholm Business School.

My research project, entitled "Colliding Constructions of Valuations: The Role of Accounting in the Start-up and Venture Capital Nexus," involves a qualitative study designed to understand the social constructs that shape valuation and valuation practices in the context of venture capital and start-ups. The project focuses on the role that accounting plays in the start-up valuation process and on valuation as a socially constructed phenomenon. This perspective is central to my project; viewing valuation as a social construct means understanding valuation as not merely a technical device, but a multifaceted process influenced by the interactions, value frames, and interpretations of different actors.

My fascination with this topic arises from firsthand observations during my tenure in the venture capital industry, where I observed how the valuation of start-up companies was undertaken, negotiated, and rationalized in a context of big promises, uncertain futures, and lack of track records.

I am a member of The Research School in Accounting (FIRE).