Venture capital investment hits six-year low

Venture capital investment hit a six-year low in Q1/09 as the industry continues to shrink as a viable source for financing. The industry invested $275 million in just 102 firms, down 25% from the same period last year when $367 million was invested in 135 companies. The Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA) — which issued the report based on Thompson Reuters data — says the "crisis point" is due to fundraising challenges, with just $149 million committed. That's down 74.4% from the same period a year ago when $418 million was raised. In contrast, US VC raised $4.3 billion in Q1/09, down 39% from $7.1 billion raised in Q1/08. Of the $275 million invested in Q1/09, $79 million came from foreign (mainly US) sources. Domestic sources were off 31% to $196 million. Information technology dominated the quarter with 43 companies securing $157 million for 57% of the total. Life sciences firms had a particularly weak quarter with just 16 firms receiving $37 million….