If there’s one statistic that typifies the problems that the venture capital industry has faced in recent years it is IPO yield – the number of initial public offerings divided by the number of companies financed five years earlier. This figure captures the industry average share of portfolio companies that exit in the most lucrative way for investors.
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Since the end of the Internet bubble in 2001, the number of venture capital financed companies that have gone public has dropped substantially. At the same time, venture capitalists have been investing in more start-ups than they used to. As a result, the ratio of IPOs to start-ups funded five years earlier has plummeted.
From 1991 to 2000, IPOs accounted for 17.7 percent of companies financed by venture capitalists five years before. In contrast, from 2001 to 2010, the number of venture capital backed IPOs was only 1.4 percent of the number of companies that were financed a half decade earlier.
Here’s the industry’s problem in a nutshell: if only one out of 71 of their portfolio companies goes public, venture capitalists are going to have a hard time making money.
What is the reduction in public offerings attributed too? A weak economy, or something more specific?
Great article!
I’ve also noticed an unfortunate trend toward ‘green businesses’, govt’ backed ventures, and medical research. These industries are trendy, but I believe them to be poor choices for high growth in the mid and long term.
VC analysts would do well to follow their gut, rather than following trends.
Thanks,
Tony
Anthony C. Gruber, CPA
President, Viser Business Tools
You’ve hit the nail on the head. VCs rely on a certain percentage of their investments turning into the “home run” that brings home the bacon. IPOs were the home run hitters and they’ve virtually disappeared.