Internet-specific and early-stage funding increases.

PositionINVESTMENT

Venture capitalists invested $7 billion in 898 deals in the second quarter of 2012, according to PwC and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data provided by Thomson Reuters. Quarterly venture capital (VC) investment activity climbed 17 percent in terms of dollars and 11 percent in the number of deals, compared to the first quarter of 2012, when $6 billion was invested in 809 deals.

The number of early-stage deals reached an estimated $2.1 billion going into 410 deals, an 18 percent increase in dollars and a 28 percent increase in deals from the prior quarter. The Internet-specific sector also saw increases during the second quarter, rising 22 percent in dollars and 31 percent in deals from the prior quarter to $1.8 billion going into 261 deals.

However, the life sciences sector, covering biotechnology and medical devices, experienced a decline in funding, dropping 9 percent in dollars and 6 percent in deals from the prior quarter, to $1.4 billion going into 174 deals in the second quarter.

"The concentration of venture capital dollars in the hands of fewer firms will increasingly dictate the flow of investment," said Mark Heesen, president of NVCA.

"Additionally, we continue to watch the early stage and first time financing numbers as they are critical to the U.S. innovation pipeline," Heesen said. "We are encouraged that these...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT