International venture capital plummets 63 percent in Q2

International venture capital plummets 63 percent in Q2

Overseas markets saw a sharp drop in venture capital investing in the second quarter, falling 63 percent since last year to $1.46 billion across 250 deals — the lowest it’s been for six years, according to Dow Jones VentureSource. To put this in context, $5.27… Continue Reading

Q2 venture investing looks like it’s 2005 (and that’s a good thing)

Q2 venture investing looks like it’s 2005 (and that’s a good thing)

Hey, that wasn’t so bad. Dow Jones VentureSource has released its data on venture capital investments during the second quarter of 2009, and while the numbers might look bleak in most years, given the broader context, they look … okay.

In Q2 (from April to June),… Continue Reading

Recordnet.com tries to save Stockton’s Fourth of July

Recordnet.com tries to save Stockton’s Fourth of July

Who says newspapers aren’t embracing the Internet? Stockton, a city in California’s San Joaquin Valley, had to cancel its July 4 fireworks celebration due to a tight budget. Don’t worry, though — the town’s paper is using the web to bring a a little light… Continue Reading

New investments shrink as VCs spend more on insider rounds

New investments shrink as VCs spend more on insider rounds

Venture capital funding already looked pretty bleak, with VentureSource saying that venture investing dropped 50 percent between the first three months of 2008 and the same period in 2009. But the Wall Street Journal just published new numbers (again from VentureSource) making the picture seem… Continue Reading

VentureSource: Worst venture liquidity in five years

VentureSource: Worst venture liquidity in five years

Now that 2008 is over, we can officially declare it the worst year for U.S. venture liquidity since 2003 (when the industry was still feeling the effects of the bursting tech bubble). This year, venture-backed companies generated $24.1 billion through initial public offerings (IPOs) and… Continue Reading

European venture investments hit new low

European venture investments hit new low

European venture investments continued their decline in the second quarter of 2008 — there were only 167 deals completed, the fewest in at least nine years. A total of EUR 858 million was invested in Q2, marking a 35 percent drop from the same period… Continue Reading

Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

Even though well-educated women and minorities have been entering the workforce for years, the venture capital industry is still dominated by white men. But there are a few signs that things are changing.

In a new study from the National Venture Capital Association and Dow Jones… Continue Reading

Dow Jones: Web 2.0 investments peaking?

Dow Jones: Web 2.0 investments peaking?

Investment in Web 2.0 start-ups may be peaking, according to new data from Dow Jones VentureSource. Among other warning signs is the fact that Facebook accounted for a whopping 22 percent of the $1.32 billion in Web 2.0 investments made in 2007.

The number of investments… Continue Reading

Roundup: Murdoch closer on WSJ, Scoop Bar, Wikia-Grub, Hitachi and more

Roundup: Murdoch closer on WSJ, Scoop Bar, Wikia-Grub, Hitachi and more

Here’s the latest action:

Murdoch appears to have enough Bancroft family support for purchase –The jury is still officially out, but the NYT is saying it looks like Dow Jones and its jewel, the Wall Street Journal, will indeed to go to Murdoch’s News Corp.

Hakia’s Scoop Bar —… Continue Reading