Monday, April 23, 2007

Venture Capital Investments Hit $6.96B In First Quarter

Dow Jones VentureOne and Ernst & Young are reporting this morning that U.S. venture capital investments reached $6.96 billion in the first quarter of 2007. According to the firms' quarterly venture capital report, there were 584 venture capital deals in the quarter totaling $6.96B in investment. The Bay Area saw $2.0B invested in the region, with 189 deals. Capital investments increased by 10%, though seven fewer deals completed in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year. The sectors with the greatest increase in investments were alternative energy and environmental technologies and healthcare; information technology investments actually declined, with a drop by 16% in amounts and 8% in terms of deal count.