October 13th, 2009
Investors won't venture to gamble
The quarter recently ended was not a happy one for venture capital firms. Investments were down by 80% in Q3, compared to a year earlier. Apparently the lowest level since the nasty days of 2003 when the tech bubbled had burst in investors’ faces. Investment was so weak, VCs raised less money in Q3 than they had in a miserable Q2 of this year.
“Forbes” sums it up tersely, “Venture Stall.” They foresee unhappy times for “the Sand Hill Road crowd.” “Forbes” points out the number of deals done in Q3 was lowest number in fifteen years. For you kids that was BEFORE the Internet had become a commercial venture.
This is happening simultaneously with a run-up on Wall Street and amidst reports that one major private equity firm is about to collect cash through a series of IPOs.
This capital drought will make green tech start-ups even hungrier for money via a climate change bill, or push green tech innovation offshore to cash-rich places like China.
A newsman since 1969, Harry Fuller has worked for CBS, ABC, CNBC Europe, CNET and was founding news director at TechTV. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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