Middle market private equity firms that invest in small and middle-sized companies have a good reason to be bullish as growth is strong in the sector, CNBC reported.
Industry
EU launches tech startup accelerator and think tank to follow Silicon Valley's success
In a bid to match Silicon Valley's success, the European Commission (EC) launched the Startup Europe Partnership tech startup accelerator and the European Digital Forum think tank at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Venture capitalists believe 2014 will be great for startup firms in need of financing- report
Although there are worries about the shortfall of funding for the venture capital industry, venture capitalists are optimistic that this will continue to be a good year for firms looking to raise money, the U-T San Diego news site reported.
US financial leaders caution Bitcoin could be used to fund illegal activities
US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and JPMorgan Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon cautioned on the dangers of using the Bitcoin and predicted that regulation would most likely end it, the Financial Times reported.
Argentina to impose online purchase restrictions
The Argentine Republic’s government is imposing a restriction on online purchases, in a bid to reduce the amount of dollars leaving the country and help lift its economy.
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Mercom Capital Group data revealed that venture capital funding for firms in the wind energy industry increased 44.4% to 455 million around the world last year, the Business Started reported.
US venture capital investment hardly moved last year but was already trending upwards as investments in the fourth quarter increased, The Wall Street Journal blog Venture Capital Dispatch reported.
Research from Mercom Capital Group showed that venture capital funding for companies in the smart grid technology sector was pegged at $405 million in 2013, a dip from the $434 million in 2012.
While venture capital funding for healthcare influenced by information technology or HIT is more pronounced in the US, venture capitalists are also showing interest in the niche in India, The Hindu Business Line reported.
With a recovery in the IPO market propelling private equity backers to exit their investments, lenders are readying to list more UK retailers on the London bourse, the Financial Times reported.
New York-based research gathered data on startup death and found out that half of early-stage firms die before raising $1 million and that most startups last 20 months after their last funding round.
Jeff Jordan, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, says the structural shift from physical to digital retail is happening more quickly than what he had previously imagined.
Michael Abrash, virtual reality researcher at Washington-based gaming firm Valve, said he expects amazing and consumer-friendly virtual reality products to be on launched on the market within two years.
An increasing number of hedge funds like Coatue Management are looking for opportunities to invest in the private markets, pouring money in technology startups, TechCrunch reported.
