PwC | CB Insights MoneyTree™ Report Q1 2019
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Executive summary
US VC funding and deal activity fell in Q1’19 from near-
record levels in 2018
US VC funding and deal activity fell in Q1’19: US VC funding
fell 36% in Q1’19 to $25B, with 4% fewer deals compared to Q4’18.
Q4’18’s $39B and 2018’s $115B were the second largest quarter and
year, respectively.
US mega-rounds were down from a record Q4’18, but well
above historic levels: US private companies raised 46 $100M+
rounds in Q1’19, down from a record Q4’18 but well above historic
levels.
Seed-stage deals continued to fall in Q1’19: Seed-stage deals as
a percentage of total US deal activity continued to fall in Q1’19. Seed-
stage deals began to decline starting in Q3’17, at 36% of all deals,
falling to 24% in Q1’19.
Artificial Intelligence-related funding fell for the second-
straight quarter: AI-related companies raised $2B in Q1’19, falling
22% compared to Q4’18, the second straight quarterly decline.
FinTech funding fell slightly after a record Q4’18: FinTech-
related funding remained elevated at $3B in Q1’19, falling only 3%
after a record Q4’18. Deal activity rose 13% in Q1’19, to 170
transactions.
Global funding fell 22% in Q1’19 after 2018 surge to near
record levels
Global funding and deal activity fell in Q1’19: Funding fell by
22% to $52B, raised over 3,327 transactions. Deal activity fell by 5%.
Asian funding dropped off: Asia-based private companies raised
$18B in Q1’19, a 12% decrease compared to Q4’18. Deal activity fell
7% to 1,128 transactions, the second-straight quarterly decrease.
North America minted 10 new unicorns: North America beat
out Asia for the third-straight quarter in private companies newly
valued at $1B+. NA saw 10 new $1B+ private company valuations,
compared to 5 in Asia.
Silicon Valley funding fell amid declining deal activity:
Silicon Valley fell by 19% to $4B, raised over 118 deals. Deal activity
fell for the third straight quarter.
NY metro area funding jumped: NY metro-based VC backed
companies raised $4.5B in Q1’19, a 110% increase compared to Q4’18.
New York VC funding rounds included 6 mega-rounds, including one
$1B round.
Note: Report includes all rounds to VC-backed companies. For a detailed brief
on methodology, please reference page 94 of this report.