Venture capital: now and after the dotcom crash

High growth, innovative companies are disproportionately important for economic growth in the UK. Venture capital is an important source of finance for these companies, one of the few sources with an appetite for risk that matches the uncertainty that comes with pioneering, innovative ventures and the ability to provide management support to take a company from initial proof of concept to mass market growth. This has seen venture capital act as a catalyst for new industries and ground-breaking global companies. And yet, the venture capital industry in the UK has been in a period of decline. This has been particularly true for early-stage venture capital as NESTA outlined last year. This report provides an update on the venture capital market in 2009, examines similarities and differences between the current crisis and the one triggered by the dotcom crash and considers prospects for a recovery.