Mon, Feb 2, 2026
A A A
Welcome Guest
Free Trial RSS pod
Get FREE trial access to our award winning publications
Alternative Market Briefing

Despite some pretty notable flops, VC had a good year in 2019

Friday, January 17, 2020

Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

Venture Capital had some pretty epic failures in 2019. But even with a few speedbumps, new data from PitchBook shows that VCs ended the year with deal activity on par with 2018's record setting figures. VC's posted $250 billion worth of exits - 80% of which came from VC-backed IPOs. 2019 also recorded 237 megadeals, an 11.8% gain on 2018.

Overall capital raised by US venture funds reached $46.3 billion in 2019, the second highest total in the past decade. Data in the report shows that fund size is creeping up broadly - accounting for the growth in this statistic.

Valuations continue to rise and early-stage deal values hit an unprecedented level in 2019 climbing to a median size of $6.5 million. Angel & seed deal sizes have increased over the past seven years, landing at an annual median of $1.1 million in 2019. According to the report, startup founders are choosing to wait longer before pursuing angel, seed, or venture money in part because of the low cost involved in setting up a new company. When founders do come to market they tend to be valued higher at even the angel/seed stages because of the amount of work that can happen at a company before formal financing.

The report notes that the rise of early-stage megadeals was the big story for 2019. 53 such transactions were completed at $100 million or higher,......................

To view our full article Click here

Previous Opalesque Exclusives                                  
Previous Other Voices                                               
Access Alternative Market Briefing

 



  • Top Forwarded
  • Top Tracked
  • Top Searched
  1. Other Voices: Nvidia extraordinary growth and the challenge of sustaining demanding valuations over time[more]

    Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, writes: Nvidia has established itself as one of the most extraordinary growth companies in the global technology sector. Over the past two fiscal years, its revenues have risen from levels close to $60 billion annually to well above $120 billi

  2. Secondaries take center stage: What the 2026 PE landscape means for GPs and investors[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: The 2026 edition of Dechert's Global Private Equity Outlook - "Signs of a Gradual Thaw" - marks a notable shift in industry sentiment. After years of compr

  3. Other Voices: Life settlements hedge funds are gaining acceptance among institutional investors[more]

    By Donald A. Steinbrugge, CFA - Founder and CEO of Agecroft Partners, a global hedge fund consulting and marketing firm. Over the past decade, life settlements hedge funds have steadily gained acceptance among institutional investors. Their appeal lies in the potential to deliver

  4. And, finally: Time to share it with the people[more]

    From Newsoftheweird: Leavenworth, Washington, has become a tourist destination because of the Bavarian theme businesses have adopted there, NPR reported. One shop, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, houses the world's largest nutcracker collection, thanks to 101-year-old Arlene Wagner. Wagner sta

  5. Opalesque Exclusive: High-profile fraud dispute hits alternative investment firm[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque: Former Tennis Champion Coco Vandeweghe Sues AC Investment Management for $1 Million+ in Missing Funds In a developing legal dispute that underscores the risks athletes and private clients face in trusting financial managers, professional tennis star Co