Josh Lerner is an American economist and academic known for his research and teaching in the field of entrepreneurial finance, venture capital, private equity, and innovation policy. He is a professor at Harvard Business School, where he holds the Jacob H. Schiff Chair as Professor of Investment Banking. Lerner has authored or co-authored numerous books and scholarly articles on topics related to venture capital, including "The Venture Capital Cycle" and "Innovation and Its Discontents," the latter of which examines the U.S. patent system and its challenges.
Lerner has also been involved in the development of case studies on entrepreneurship and private equity, widely used in business education. His work often focuses on the structure and performance of venture capital firms, government policies affecting innovation, and the globalization of venture capital markets. He has received multiple awards for his teaching and research and has served as a consultant to various governments and organizations on innovation and economic development.
He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has spent much of his academic career at Harvard Business School. His research is frequently cited in both academic and policy discussions concerning innovation-driven entrepreneurship.