Colorado companies raised $621.8 million last year from venture capitalists, down 5 percent from 2005, according to a study released today by accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers.
On Monday, a report released by Ernst & Young pegged 2006’s total at $464.5 million, down 31 percent compared with 2005.
The discrepancy can be explained, in part, by differences in when and how the deals were tracked from the venture-capital firms, said Bob Puls, partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Denver.
“I was a little surprised by the difference,” said Puls, pointing out that the discrepancy between the two studies is typically much smaller. “There are always a few deals that fall through the cracks.”
The Ernst & Young report showed Colorado companies landed 55 deals last year.
PricewaterhouseCoopers tallied 92 deals, including 30 by software companies, 13 by biotechnology firms and 10 by medical- device or -equipment makers.
In terms of total dollars raised, biotech companies received the most money, $158.6 million; followed by software, $134.3 million; and industrial/energy, $98.6 million, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Nationally, venture capitalists invested $25.5 billion, a five-year high, PricewaterhouseCoopers said. The Ernst & Young study pegged the national total at $25.8 billion, up 8 percent from 2005.
Staff writer Will Shanley can be reached at 303-954-1260 or wshanley@denverpost.com.
