$10.6 Billion in Venture Capital Deployed to Startup Ecosystem in Third Quarter, According to the MoneyTree Report

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Venture capitalists invested $10.6 billion in 891 deals in the third quarter of 2016, according to the MoneyTree™ Report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), based on data provided by Thomson Reuters. Total venture dollars deployed to startup companies for the quarter decreased 32 percent and total deal count was down 11 percent, compared to the second quarter when $15.6 billion was invested in 999 deals. Compared to Q3 2015, dollars and deals are down 36 and 25 percent, respectively. This is the eleventh consecutive quarter of more than $10 billion in venture capital invested in a single quarter, and the second time deal count has dropped below one thousand since Q1 2013.

"The decline in venture capital activity this quarter is part of the normalization process that is expected after a quarter in which record-breaking investments dominated headlines," said Tom Ciccolella, US Venture Capital Market Leader at PwC. "Despite deal count being the lowest since Q3 2010, quality deals continue to receive funding. The broader ecosystem remains healthy, bolstered by a lift in biotechnology within the top deals and overall, strong fundraising, and a continuation of the trend towards investments in non-traditional industries."

Top Deals

The top 10 deals accounted for 22 percent of total dollars invested in the third quarter, up from 38 percent of total venture capital deployed during the second quarter. There were 10 megadeals (investments of $100 million or more) in total, down from 12 in the previous quarter and 27 in Q3 2015. 

Industry Analysis

Despite a 58 percent decrease in dollars and 6 percent decrease in deals versus the second quarter of 2016, the Software industry continued to receive the highest level of funding of all industries, receiving $3.7 billion across 372 deals for the quarter. Having just one of the 10 megadeals, the Software industry has held the top spot for dollars invested among all MoneyTree industries for 28 straight quarters.

The Biotechnology industry received the second largest amount of venture capital for the quarter, with $1.8 billion invested into 87 deals, increasing 5 percent in dollars despite a 16 percent decrease in deals, compared to the previous quarter. Three of the top 10 deals were in the Biotechnology industry. Investments in the Life Sciences sector (Biotechnology and Medical Devices combined) during the third quarter accounted for $2.5 billion going into 156 deals, increasing 8 percent in dollars and decreasing 7 percent in deals. Investments in Life Sciences companies accounted for 23 percent of all venture capital deployed to the startup ecosystem in the third quarter.

Consumer Products and Services companies received the third largest amount of venture capital for the quarter with $1.3 billion deployed across 52 deals. Notably, the industry sector also received the greatest increase in dollars versus the previous quarter, with a lift of 114 percent. Industrial/Energy received the fourth largest amount of venture capital, with $677 million going into 51 deals, followed closely by Medical Devices and Equipment, which received $663 million going into 69 deals.

Ten of the 17 MoneyTree industries saw a decrease in dollars invested in the third quarter, including Semiconductors (76 percent decrease) and Networking and Equipment (66 percent decrease).

Venture capitalists invested $2.7 billion into 210 Internet-Specific companies during the third quarter of 2016, increasing 4 percent in dollars but decreasing 17 percent in deal count, compared to the second quarter of 2016. "Internet-Specific" is a discrete classification assigned to a company with a business model that is fundamentally dependent on the Internet, regardless of the company's primary industry category.

Stage of Development

Dollars invested in Seed stage companies declined 23 percent during the third quarter, totaling $388 million in 37 deals and representing just 4 percent of all venture investment dollars and deals for the quarter. Early stage investment declined 12 percent in dollars and 14 percent in deals with $3.6 billion going into 398 deals. Seed/Early stage deals as a percent of the total remained flat versus the previous quarter, accounting for 49 percent of total deal volume, compared to 51 percent in the prior quarter. The average Seed stage deal in the third quarter was $10.5 million, versus $11.1 million in the second quarter. The average Early stage deal in the third quarter was $8.9, flat versus the $8.8 million average in the prior quarter.

Expansion stage investment was down 63 percent in dollars and 13 percent in deal count for the third quarter, at $3.2 billion and 266, respectively, from the previous quarter. Expansion stage deals accounted for 30 percent of all venture dollars in the third quarter and 30 percent of deals. The average Expansion stage deal was $12 million, down from $28.1 million in the second quarter.

Investments in Later stage companies increased 43 percent to $3.5 billion going into 190 deals in the third quarter. Later stage deals accounted for 33 percent of total dollar volume for the quarter and 21 percent in deals. The average Later stage deal in the third quarter was $18.3 million, up from $13.0 million in the prior quarter.

First-Time Financings

First-time financing (companies receiving venture capital for the first time) dollars decreased 9 percent to $1.5 billion and deals decreased 8 percent to 259 in the third quarter, compared to the previous quarter. First-time financings accounted for 15 percent of all dollars and 29 percent of all deals in the third quarter.

Of the companies receiving venture capital funding for the first time in the third quarter, Software companies captured the largest share, accounting for 45 percent of the dollars and deals with $696 million going into 116 deals. First-time funding in the Life Sciences sector during the third quarter was up 3 percent in dollars and down 8 percent in deals, with $370 million going into 33 deals.

The average first-time deal in the third quarter was $6.0 million, flat versus the previous quarter.

MoneyTree Report results are available online at www.pwcmoneytree.com.

Note to the Editor
Information included in this release or related venture capital investment data should be cited in the following way: "The MoneyTree™ Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, based on data from Thomson Reuters" or "PwC MoneyTree™ Report based on data from Thomson Reuters." After the first reference, subsequent references may refer to PwC MoneyTree Report or MoneyTree Report. Charts and tables displaying the data are sourced to "PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree™ Report, Data: Thomson Reuters." After the first reference, subsequent references may refer to PwC MoneyTree Report, MoneyTree Report or MoneyTree.

About the PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree™ Report
The MoneyTree™ Report measures cash-for-equity investments by the professional venture capital community in private emerging companies in the U.S. It is based on data provided by Thomson Reuters. The survey includes the investment activity of professional venture capital firms with or without a U.S. office, SBICs, venture arms of corporations, institutions, investment banks and similar entities whose primary activity is financial investing. Where there are other participants such as angels, corporations, and governments, in a qualified and verified financing round the entire amount of the round is included. Qualifying transactions include cash investments by these entities either directly or by participation in various forms of private placement. All recipient companies are private, and may have been newly-created or spun-out of existing companies.

The survey excludes debt, buyouts, recapitalizations, secondary purchases, IPOs, investments in public companies such as PIPES (private investments in public entities), investments for which the proceeds are primarily intended for acquisition such as roll-ups, change of ownership, and other forms of private equity that do not involve cash such as services-in-kind and venture leasing.

Investee companies must be domiciled in one of the 50 U.S. states or DC even if substantial portions of their activities are outside the United States.

Data is primarily obtained from a quarterly survey of venture capital practitioners conducted by Thomson Reuters. Information is augmented by other research techniques including other public and private sources. All data is subject to verification with the venture capital firms and/or the investee companies. Only professional independent venture capital firms, institutional venture capital groups, and recognized corporate venture capital groups are included in venture capital industry rankings.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has taken responsible steps to ensure that the information contained in the MoneyTree™ Report has been obtained from reliable sources. However, PwC nor Thomson Reuters can warrant the ultimate validity of the data obtained in this manner. Results are updated periodically. Therefore, all data is subject to change at any time. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a competent professional advisor. This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.

The PwC Private Equity & Venture Capital Practice is part of the Global Technology Industry Group, www.pwcglobaltech.com. The group is comprised of industry professionals who deliver a broad spectrum of services to meet the needs of fast-growth technology start-ups and agile, global giants in key industry segments: networking & computers, software & Internet, semiconductors, life sciences and private equity & venture capital. PwC is a recognized leader in each industry segment with services for technology clients in all stages of growth.

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