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2008 Venture Capital Report09/07/2008. Source: WilmerHale. 
The gradual but steady increase in venture investing activity that has characterised the venture capital market over the past several years continued in 2007. Of greater significance was the more pronounced improvement in the IPO and M&A markets for venture-backed companies over the past year, according to this venture capital report from law firm WilmerHale. In 2007, 2,648 reported venture capital financings raised total proceeds of $29.9 billion. This compares to 2,616 financings, raising $27.7 billion, in 2006. Figures captured in the first quarter typically understate the prior year's total level of venture financing activity by 5 to 10 percent, due to the delayed reporting of many venture capital transactions, so the increase in investing activity in 2007 was greater than current figures would indicate. 2007 is the fourth consecutive year in which the number of financings has increased. 2007 financing activity remains significantly lower, however, than the levels reached during the 1999-2001 Internet bubble.
The median size of venture capital financings increased to $7.6 million in 2007, from $7.0 million in 2006. The 2007 figure is the highest figure in any year other than 2000. The median financing size for life sciences companies ($10.0 million) increased significantly from 2006 ($7.5 million), while the figure for information technology companies ($7.0 million) remained unchanged.
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