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Q3 2021
PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor
October 13, 2021
Exits top $582 billion as US VC continues its extraordinary year
This report was sponsored by NVCA, in partnership with Silicon Valley Bank and Affinity. Interested in sponsoring future editions of this report? Visit our media partnerships page to learn more.
In nine months, the US venture capital industry turned 2021 into a year for the record books, leaving 2020's eye-popping numbers far behind.
The Q3 2021 PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor depicts how the frenetic pace of dealmaking, exits, and fundraising has easily toppled last year's records, as venture capital's strength continues to support the country's economic recovery.
Key takeaways
- Exit value reached $187 billion, pushing the total for 2021 past $582 billion—more than twice 2020's record figure.
- An explosion of mega-rounds ($100 million+) drove more than $49 billion in deal value, as the annual total surpassed $238 billion.
- 161 funds closed, as high exit values and growing deal sizes keep venture capital fundraising on pace to break the once-unfathomable $100 billion mark.
- The rise of nontraditional investors remains an ongoing storyline; through Sept. 30, this group took part in rounds accounting for 33.5% of the year’s deal count but 77% of its value.
This report was sponsored by NVCA, in partnership with Silicon Valley Bank and Affinity. Interested in sponsoring future editions of this report? Visit our media partnerships page to learn more.