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This paper examines the where, when and why of first round entrepreneurial investment activity in the United States from the first quarter of 1995 until the second quarter of 2010. The paper analyzes these venture capital investments taking into consideration the role of macroeconomic variables, region, and industry. Additionally, trends in regional and industrial investments are evaluated using statistical and graphical analyses. By studying these findings, we are able to understand the impact of different periods of economic growth on venture capital investments. Lastly, the shock of the dot.com bubble and recent financial crisis are integrated into the findings.

Economic Geography maintains that economic activities are not randomly distributed across space. This paper examines the impact of industrial and regional characteristics on venture capital activities in the United States from 1995 until 2009. The unique database allows for stratifications into seventeen industries within nineteen regions of the United States. This study affirms the significance of both Location and industry in venture capital investment. Both statistical and graphical methods are employed in order to better ascertain the dynamic nature of the data.

This paper examines venture capital investment activity in the United States during the period 1995 to the first quarter 2009, taking into consideration both location and industry sector. The research question is whether industry and region are important factors in determining venture capital investment. Furthermore, the paper explores the effects of macroeconomic variables on investment activity. Consequently, the venture capital data are augmented by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Federal Funds Rate, three, five and ten year interest rates. By examining long term trends, the effect of the current economic crisis on venture capital investment may be better understood.