The latest edition of “The Wisconsin Portfolio,” an annual publication of the Tech Council’s Wisconsin Angel Network, shows a sharp increase in angel and venture investment activity for the 2014 calendar year. Read Xconomy story here.
At least 113 Wisconsin early stage companies raised investment capital in 2014, a 31 percent jump from the prior year, when the total was 86 companies. More than $346 million was raised by those 113 companies, nearly three times more than the 2013 total of about $128 million.
Even if 2014’s six largest deals in terms of dollars invested are taken out of the mix, the remaining 107 companies collectively raised more than $112 million – still approaching the 2013 dollar mark.
The Tech Council obtained data from a variety of public and industry sources, including a survey of members of the Wisconsin Angel Networks. Other highlights from the report:
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The rise in deals and dollars lined up with the fact that more early stage networks and funds were active in 2014 than in prior years. The membership of the Wisconsin Angel Network, a project of the Tech Council with support from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., continues to grow.
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There was continued activity in 2014 on the part of out-of-state investors, who found good valuations and competitive operating costs in Wisconsin.
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Thirty-eight Wisconsin companies raised at least $1 million from investors in 2014, up from 27 in 2013.
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The report is consistent with other outside observations. The Angel Resource Institute recently reported that the Upper Midwest is a surging center for early stage deals, particularly angel deals. The institute reported that the Great Lakes region, which includes Wisconsin, was second in the nation – only behind perennial leader California.
Click here to read the full version of the report.
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