Venture Pulse Q1 2018

Highlights from the Venture Pulse Q1 2018 report

• VC-backed companies in the U.S. continued to demonstrate strong demand among investors, reaching a record level of $28.2 billion invested across 1,693 deals during the first quarter of 2018.
  
  
• While 2017 saw a rise in VC investment to B2B businesses in the U.S., the biggest winners in Q1’18 were consumer focused companies. A number of large rounds went to companies focused on improving the lives of consumers —whether by offering convenience (e.g. food delivery company Door Dash, dog walker identification platform Wag), or by improving health (e.g. Harmony Biosciences, ModernaTherapeutics).
  
  
• Late in Q1’18, two unicorns went public: cloud-based security provider Zscaler and cloud-storage provider Dropbox. Both companies have seen positive results, with Zscaler’s stock price doubling in the first days of trading and Dropbox’s stock increasing 36% on the first day of trading. While Dropbox went public at a lower valuation than its most recent private round, post-IPO performance of companies in similar situations has been strong, calming concerns related to potential stigma.

For more details and insights on venture investment, 
READ THE LATEST REPORT: Venture Pulse Q1 2018

The Pulse Series

Venture Pulse and The Pulse of Fintech

KPMG’s Pulse Series of quarterly reports analyze the latest global and regional investment trends and insights. Included in the reports are comprehensive analyses on the lifecycle of venture capital investments as well as overall fintech investment across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Each quarter we share the latest valuations, financing, deal sizes, mergers & acquisitions, exits, corporate investment, and industry trends.

KPMG's Venture Capital practice

KPMG’s Venture Capital (VC) practice offers a range of audit, tax and advisory services tailored to help venture-backed companies navigate each stage of development—from idea through exit. We use our knowledge of the VC ecosystem to help entrepreneurial ventures simplify the complex challenges of creating the technologies of tomorrow in highly competitive industries, while also meeting diverse regulatory, compliance, and financial reporting requirements. Our VC clients collaborate with a global network of KPMG professionals who understand the marketplace challenges facing start-ups and growth companies. Our passion and mindset match the companies we serve: entrepreneurial, hands-on, proactive, visionary, and dedicated.