SmallBusinessExecutiveInforming, Inspiring and Connecting Businesses
Angel investor market picks up: UNH analysis
Submitted by the Center for Venture Research DURHAM, N.H. – Following a considerable contraction in investment dollars in 2008 and 2009, the angel investor market continued to recover in 2011, a trend that began in 2010 in investment dollars and in the number of investments, according to the 2011 Angel Market Analysis released by the [...]
Bankers bearish on U.S. IPO market: BDO
While early projections for IPOs in 2012 aren’t promising, Lee Graul of BDO USA points out that investor confidence can change quickly. By Ann Meyer The bull IPO market that many were predicting a year ago might take a bit longer to materialize. While Groupon made headlines when it raised about $800 million in a [...]
Seasoned entrepreneurs forecast disruptive technology will fuel new startups
By Ann Meyer For SmallBusinessExecutive Expect to see rapid change in Chicago’s business community in the coming year, as technology disrupts old industries. “Think about what the Internet has done in the last 10 years,” said Matt McCall, partner at New World Ventures. It has created companies, while putting others out of business. “I also [...]
Forecast for M&A activity remains mixed
Submitted by PricewaterhouseCoopers NEW YORK, NY – December 12, 2011 – Volatile equity markets slowed mounting U.S. deal activity in the third and fourth quarters, following growing deal momentum in the first two quarters of 2011. In light of concerns over European debt and a pullback in financing, U.S. merger and acquisition (M&A) activity [...]
Want funding? Think sustainability
– The business case for environmental sustainability is accelerating. Aside from appealing to environmentally conscious customers, going green can prepare a company for investment capital or an initial public offering, according to new research from PricewaterhouseCoopers. “When a company is raising capital for the first time, they’re really in the spotlight in terms of what [...]
Capital constraints deter job creation: poll
By Ann Meyer With President Barack Obama expected to announce a jobs act Thursday night, experts said what small businesses want most is access to capital. Without capital, small businesses often are constrained from adding workers. And after business owners are turned down for bank loans or other types of financing, they often are reluctant [...]
Lots of small fish add up to growing pool for Eventbrite
In five years, San Francisco-based Eventbrite has come to define online ticket sales for small events, a market overlooked by giant Ticketmaster. Last year, the company sold 11 million tickets to the tune of $207 million in annual revenue, the New York Times reports, and the company is targeting $400 million in ticket sales this year. The [...]
Private equity fund raises $3.25 billion
A Chicago private equity fund has raised more than $3.25 billion for its 10th buyout fund, exceeding its goal of $3 billion, the Chicago Tribune reported. GTCR said Fund X is its largest fund to date. The company invests in financial services, health care, information services and technology companies, the story said. The Teachers’ Retirement [...]
Illinois funding gap sends startups out of state for capital
By Ann Meyer – Story updated at 10 a.m. Tuesday. When Jabber Jury officially goes live with its online programming, it will be largely due to out-of-state venture capital that funded the Chicago startup. The company had little more than a concept to show investors last November when it attracted $1.2 million from Everett Palmer, [...]
