a healthy and vibrant IPO market. Fifty-two percent also cited the need for a stable economic environment. In the U.S., 30 percent of respondents indicated a need for a competitive investment banking community for IPOs.
• Despite challenges, there is still great promise abroad: Of those who are investing outside their home countries, more than half (57 percent) plan to increase this activity during the next five years. An additional 35 percent plan to maintain their level of foreign investment.
• Tech scores big with VCs: Approximately 69 percent of respondents cited an anticipated increase in investment in cloud computing over the next five years, while 65 percent plan to increase investment in social and new media. Clean technology remains attractive with 62 percent of respondents planning to increase investments in this area as well.
How is this relevant to the Northeast region, you might ask? IPO activity at the first half of this year in the Northeast didn’t appear to be able to support a healthy VC industry. The tide appears to be shifting though to a more positive environment since these results were launched, with LinkedIn possibly initiating a domino effect to create resurgence in IPO filings.
While it might be expensive to start a company in the Northeast, there is a vast talent pool experienced in new media, advertising and retail that likely makes investors stop to take a look at one of the top media and fashion capitals of the world.
There appears to be a shift in the IPO market that may contribute to the VC and startup community becoming invigorated. According to the survey, the average age of companies that have gone public in the U.S. in 2011 is 10.2 years, compared to 2001 when the average age was 6.5 years. As a result, there may be a backlog of more mature companies waiting to go public, which could contribute to the IPO market rejuvenation
While the time to file an IPO may be somewhat uncertain in the coming months, many VCs and financial advisors are helping private companies understand and become prepared for what it takes to go public.
While some technology-focused IPOs popped up this spring and summer, other startup companies looking to go public may now be in a holding pattern and want to be prepared when the market is less volatile. By focusing on planning now, startups could take advantage of a solid market and strong valuation when the IPO window reopens.
Yet, the question remains, will there be enough market stability in the next year to create a healthy ecosystem for the venture industry?
