In our last post, we wrote about a study that showed how Orlando was procuring only a tiny portion of the private equity millions that are being funneled into Florida.
Now, a different survey has suggested that Orlando, and Florida in general, fared better in the race to attract private-equity dollars than is suggested by the first study.
This time, the study was performed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association using numbers from Thomson Reuters.
The report showed that Florida landed 15 deals and attracted nearly $156 million last quarter. That was good enough to make Florida 10th in the country in terms of venture-capital activity. Last quarter, we ranked just 29th.
Capital figure investment is important because many new or young businesses need financing to grow and expand. Without adequate capitalization, business formation and planning is a struggle.
So, what can we make if these two very different findings?
One thing that seems obvious is that venture capital funding fluctuates. It can take a long time to woo venture capitalists, but when the courting period is successful, the payoff can be large; that would explain the 19-place jump Florida made in the list of states with most venture-capital activity.
If you are trying to raise money for your business, it may not be a bad idea to engage a business and corporate law attorney. These lawyers may be able to help you determine whether a proposal is a good fit for your organization, and they can make sure you are aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Florida sees dramatic surge in venture capital," Richard Burnett, July 23, 2013
