U.S. venture capital investment is making a comeback, according to the latest Ernst & Young/VentureOne U.S. Venture Capital Survey. While venture funds had dipped to $5.8 million per company during the first fiscal quarter of this year, the survey found that the amount of money spent on venture-backed firms rose back up to $7.9 million during the second quarter. Leading the way in the national upsurge was biopharmaceutical investing, which hit $745 million, up from $382 million. Software investments jumped as well, a full 20 percent to $1 billion.
Venture-capital investments in Triangle companies also rose in the second quarter. Fifteen companies attracted $72.8 million in the three months ending in June, which is more than double the $31.8 million received by 10 companies in the first quarter, according to figures released by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The national accounting firm works with Thomson Venture Economics and the National Venture Capital Association to track venture-capital data in a quarterly MoneyTree survey.