2019 VC Spending on Track to Surpass Last Year's Record High
Venture capitalists invest $62 billion into U.S. startups in the first half of 2019, putting the market on pace to eclipse last year's record. Additionally, female-founded companies reach a new milestone by capturing three percent of total capital.
Venture capitalists invest $62 billion into U.S. startups through the first half of 2019, putting the market on pace to eclipse last year's all-time high of $117 billion. This current trajectory suggests that total annual VC spending in the United States easily surpasses previous records before the year ends. Globally, investors deploy a total of $104 billion so far this year, though this worldwide total falls short of the record-breaking pace set in 2018.
In a major milestone for diversity in tech, companies founded solely by women secure a record three percent of total VC capital invested in the U.S. this year. Capital invested in these female-founded startups crosses the $1 billion mark in the first quarter of 2019, marking the highest amount for any single quarter to date. Out of roughly 300 VC deals for companies led entirely by women, four businesses achieve unicorn status so far this year.
Several notable startups raise significant funding rounds this week to scale their respective operations. Pod Foods receives VC backing to modernize grocery distribution, while Calm secures $27 million for its popular meditation app. Other key fundraising moves include DotLab nabbing $10 million for an endometriosis test, Waresix hauling in $14.5 million to digitize Indonesian logistics, and Mobi grabbing $50 million for a new broadcast service.