Venture capital fund-raising slowed in the third quarter, according to Venture Economics and the National Venture Capital Association. Their report said 46 venture capital funds raised $6.2 billion in the third quarter, a 37% decline from last quarter when 78 venture funds raised $9.9 billion. The comparisons are even worse compared with last year, with a 78% decline from the $27.6 billion raised by 126 funds in the third quarter of 2000.
Venture capital funds invested $7.7 billion in 873 companies in the third quarter, a 31% decline from the previous quarter, and a 73% decline from the third quarter last year, when venture capital investment peaked at an all-time high of $28.4 billion invested in 1,814 companies.