State of the VC Industry
WTF Happened to Winter? Some Upfront Views 1 Mark Suster, @msuster Chang Xu, @_changxu

Things you
already know
2

In 2013-2015, the VC market
overheated, driving irrational behavior Valuations up 3x 3 Capital invested up 2x $6.2B to $16.7B A) Median pre-money valuation for VC-backed tech startups rose from $17M in 1Q’13 to $68M in 3Q’15, where 4Q’15 dropped to $28M, Dow Jones VentureSource Venture Capital Report 4Q’15 B) Total dollars raised by startups from 1Q’13-3Q’15 grew from $6.2B to $16.7B, where 4Q’15 dropped to $12.3B, PWC National MoneyTree Report 3Q’16 $17M to $68M

4 …and we ushered in
the age of “the unicorn”* Illustration by Goran Factory for Fortune * Credit to Aileen Lee! :)

5 High prices, often with
structure Art by Freepik VC: “You name the price, I name the terms.”

6 IPO downside protection Participating
preferred $3.6B valuation Note: most recent financing in Aug 2015 (Series F); IPO protection on Series A, B, D, E, F, with threshold at $15.78 per share and aggregate proceeds of $100M Source: Pitchbook VC Unicorn Report 2016, Pitchbook

7 IPO downside protection Multiple
liquidation preferences Participating preferred $1.7B valuation Note: IPO protection on Series C (2014) and Series D (2015), with threshold at $33.82 and aggregate proceeds of $70M and $100M respectively. Series B (2013) has 2x liquidation preference, Series C has 1.43x Source: Pitchbook VC Unicorn Report 2016, Pitchbook, The Information

8 Still great companies, but
valuation not always what it seems

9 Many predicted that winter
was coming. WTF happened to winter?

10 Twice as many VCs
did cut investment pace in 2016. Winter was real Made fewer investments Made more investments 16% 31% Q. What was your deal activity like in 2016 vs. 2015? Excluding follow ons. Excluded 53% of respondents that answered “about the same pace” Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Jan 2017

11 And 76% of VCs
reported valuations declined in 2016 Valuations decreased Valuations increased 8% 76% Q. Would you say valuations in 2016 were higher, lower or remained about the same vs. 2015? Excluded 16% of respondents that answered “about the same.” Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Jan 2017

12 2016 was the year
our industry took cost-cutting seriously and most say this work is behind them 25% 12% 63% Q. Which statement best describes the spending behavior at most of the more mature companies in which you are on the board or observe (i.e. not super early stage)? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Jan 2017 Cut costs in 2016 Planning to cut costs in 2017 No change Just 12% cutting in 2017

13 So, yeah. Winter DID
come. But it sure was mild! Blame Global Warming. Seriously.

14 “Global” warming—part 1: China,
Japan, Asia more broadly “Global” warming — Influx of foreign capital into US startups 1

15 2009 2010 2011 2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 $29B $10B$9B $12B $7B $4B$4B $1B Note: Includes all FDI in all states and industries excluding real estate Source: Rhodium Group China Investment Monitor Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has poured into the US. Tech sector has clearly benefitted

16 The US has FANG,
China has BAT: Baidu, Alibaba & Tencent. All very aggressive in US investments.

17 Baidu launched two major
funds in 2016 — increasing investment pace to match its peers Baidu Venture Early-stage fund AI, AR / VR, next-gen tech Baidu Capital Late-stage tech fund $50-100M checks $200M $3B

18 led $800M Series C
in (Feb 2016) This is like 20 seed funds in just one deal!

19 But there are a
huge number of other Chinese funds now moving into venture that you’ve never heard of with a mandate to bring innovation back to China Government-backed funds Cross-Border Funds Private Corporations

20 invested $690M in (Mar
& Oct 2016)

21 led $80M Series B
in (Aug 2016) Note: Other investors include CMC Holdings (China), Founder H Fund (China), China Assets Holdings (Hong Kong), SoftBank Group (Japan), and several US-based investors

22 invested $50M in (Jun
2016) Note: US-based Comcast Ventures, Draper Associates, Presence Capital also participated but did not lead the round

23 Of course it’s not
just China: SoftBank / Saudi Arabia’s PIF / Mubadala $100B tech fund (Oct 2016) &

24 As oil prices have
collapsed, the Arab states have been eager to diversify their assets $165M Kuwait 201520142013 2016 $3.5B Saudi Arabia

25 Temasek (Singapore’s soverign wealth
fund) opened a US venture office & allocated more capital to US deals $350M AUM

26 invested $800M in (Jan
2017)

27 93% of VCs have
seen an increase in interest from an international LP base* Q. In the last fund you raised, did you see increased interest from international sources of capital to invest as LPs in your fund? *Excluded those that answered “Didn’t reach out, so don’t know” Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Jan 2017 93% 7% More international LPs No increase

28 Designed by Freepik Global
warming — Rise of the corporate VC 2

29 Increasing number of corporates
have active venture investing arms 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 61 131 US Active CVC Investors By Quarter Source: CBInsights

30 Of course there are
the usual suspects… Source: CBInsights 80-90 deals/year 70-90 50-70 30-50 20-30

31 invested $200M in (Oct
2016) Active corporates continue to write large checks…

32 invested $500M in (Jan
2016) But large checks are coming from many sources now

33 ramps up venture fund
to $530M (Nov 2016)

34 When Sesame Street became
a venture investor, you know the market has moved

35 Unlike VCs, in 2016
twice as many Corporates made more investments than cut back. They filled in the gap Made fewer investments Made more investments 34% 18% Q. What was your deal activity like in 2016 vs. 2015? Excluding follow ons. Source: Upfront Ventures + CBInsights survey of CVCs (N=40), Jan 2017

36 And half of Corporate
investors expect to do even more in 2017 Invest less in 2017 Invest more in 2017 50% Q. Would you say valuations in 2016 were higher, lower or remained about the same vs. 2015? Source: Upfront Ventures + CBInsights survey of CVCs (N=40), Jan 2017 3%

37 Global warming — Exits
supported by M&A from non-traditional buyers 3

38 acquired for $5.8B acquired
for $3.3B acquired for $1.2B for $3.5Bacquired for $1.4Bacquired New, traditionally non-tech buyers entered the M&A market, seeking innovation and technology … Source: Dow Jones VentureSource acquired for $1.4B acquired for $1.0B is acquiring for $3.7B

39 Source: Aberdeen Assets Middle-market
PE also entered, seeking growth acquired

40 All eyes on the
Snapchat IPO as a potential signal for 2017 IPO markets Biggest since Most anticipated since

41 There is certainly a
backlog of scaling companies looking for liquidity Source: CB Insights

42 Global warming — VCs
have significant dry powder 4

LPs have finally restocked coffers
with distributions (plus many new LPs getting into the game) 43 2012 2013 2014 2015 1H'2016 8 28 32 2223 6 15 17 13 15 Contributions ($B) Distributions ($B) Source: Cambridge Associates Only 1H 2016

44 2009 2010 2011 2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 # of funds closed Capital raised ($B) 42 3535 21 2423 20 12 253255 268 204 190 141 153 122122 153 141 190 204 268 255 253 Source: Pitchbook/NVCA Venture Monitor 4Q’16 More LP money = more funds, more dollars = warmer winter

45 2016 saw many megafunds
raised $1B$1B$1.1B$1.2B$1.2B$1.2B$1.3B $1.6B $2B $2.5B $3.2B 11 firms raised $1B+ 12 firms raised $500M+ Source: DowJones Venture Source 1Q’16, 2Q’16, 3Q’16; Pitchbook data; represented aggregate sums over funds raised that invest in US tech ecosystem by each VC

46 …and 300+ more! Source:
CBInsights Microfunds are now a well- established market, with many scaling fund sizes

47 Low interest rate environment
encourages more capital to chase venture capital yields (cited by 77% of LPs as large driver of VC industry increases) 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Q: In 2016 many investors warned “Winter is Coming” referring to a slowdown in venture markets. That slowdown happened but was very short lived. Which of the following are relevant? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of LPs (N=78), Jan 2017; Federal Reserve Federal Funds Rate, 2007 to 20165.25% .25% .75%

48 Trump’s proposed tax holiday,
if passed, will lead to repatriation of capital, which will in turn fuel more M&A and investments $49B $52B $62B $113B $230B Note: Cash figures include cash, cash equivalents and liquid marketable securities held offshore Source: Moody’s Investor Service, as of end of 2016 Top 5 Companies by Offshore Cash Top 5 alone have $500+ billion in offshore cash

So where are we heading?
49

50 Foreign capital Corporate investors
Increased LP distributions New VC funds, bigger funds Repatriation of capital Likely robust M&A and IPO markets Good prognosis for venture and tech market funding in 2017-18 ↑ + ↑ + ↑ + ↑ + ↑ + ↑ =

51 Unsurprisingly VCs are very
bullish about 2017 Optimistic & bullish Innovations, but uncertainty Concerned 11% 28% 61% Q. Which of the following statements best describes your personal mood heading into 2017? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Jan 2017

52 The current category VCs
are most interested in funding is AI / Machine Learning 85% rates it more interesting than other areas AI / ML AR / VR IoT Blockchain Bots-based commerce 58% rates it the most important area in next 5-10 years Q. How do you feel about the following investment areas? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Jan 2017

53 Of the major emerging
venture categories, VCs are most skeptical about bots-based commerce and blockchain 53% thinks it’s too hyped Bots-based commerce Blockchain AR / VR IoT AI / ML 13% is deeply skeptical Q. How do you feel about the following investment areas? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Jan 2017

54 Regarding Trump, the venture
community is concerned on a number of point issues 63% some impact 25% very naive Surveillance & cyber security Employment & social policies 72% some impact 18% deeply worried Q: Do you believe a Trump Presidency could have an impact on ___? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Corporate VCs (N=40), and LPs (N=78), Jan 2017; CBInsights assisted with CVC survey 57% worried 20% very concerned Immigration

55 Overwhelmingly our industry (83%)
is very anti-Trump or dislikes him as a president Anti-Trump Dislikes Trump Fine with Trump 66% 17% 17% Q: How do you personally feel about a Trump presidency? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Corporate VCs (N=40), and LPs (N=78), Jan 2017; CBInsights assisted with CVC survey but he’s irrelevant

56 But most people don’t
believe a Trump presidency will have much impact on the venture capital industry Concerned Limited impact Optimistic 25% 70% 5% Q: Considering all these issues (offshore development, H1-B, M&A, surveillance, China relations / manufacturing, etc.) how will a Trump presidency impact venture capital? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of VCs (N=114), Corporate VCs (N=40), and LPs (N=78), Jan 2017; CBInsights assisted with CVC survey Although maybe this has deepened since inauguration?

How do LPs feel about
the direction of our industry? 57

58 The good news is
that 3x as many LPs are trying to grow their allocation to the venture asset class vs. feeling over-allocated Trying to grow VC allocation Over-allocated to VC 11% 32% Q. How would you describe your fund’s current allocation to VC? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of LPs (N=78), Jan 2017

59 And for newer funds
LPs are actively looking to add managers to their roster Looking to add Cutting back, may add 1-2 Too many 2%12% 45% Q. How would you describe your fund’s current outlook on VC managers? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of LPs (N=78), Jan 2017 VC managers VC managers

60 Overwhelmingly LPs are concerned
about the cadence of VC investments and frequency of fundraising (Some funds now on 2-2.5 year cycles) Q. How would you describe your fund’s outlook on your existing (VC) managers funding (and fundraising) pace? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of LPs (N=78), Jan 2017 23% 11% 66% VCs are fundraising more quickly & we’re concerned We’re fine with a faster pace Cadence is normal

61 LPs want a healthy
mix across all stages of venture. A large number said they felt Series A/B was their best fit and majority are concerned about growth-stage valuations Q. How would you describe your fund’s outlook on the seed market / traditional Series A/B venture capital / later stage venture capital & growth equity? Source: Upfront Ventures survey of LPs (N=78), Jan 2017 Seed Series A/B Growth Over-valued 60% Over-done 18% Being squeezed 14% Bullish 7% Best fit 30% Invest but discerning 75% Want a healthy mix 57% Want a healthy mix 38%

62 What does this all
mean?

Global is likely here to
stay — despite the efforts of the Trump Administration Warming is the forecast for funding the next 2 years Returns are ultimately what matter. Over-funding creates new & different challenges. I suspect we’ll debate over-funding in 2018-2022 :) 63

Thank you! 64 Mark Suster,
@msuster Chang Xu, @_changxu