2020 investments reach a new annual record despite the pandemic

2020 investments hit an all-time high: US-based, VC-backed companies raise nearly $130B in 2020, up 14% year-over-year (YoY) from 2019. However, annual deal activity is down 9% YoY to 6,022 deals. 

$100M+ funding rounds took place in 2020, setting a new record: Mega-rounds drive the funding gains in 2020, with 318 rounds worth $100M or more taking place in 2020, setting a new record. Mega-round deal share is roughly half of total funding in 2020 at 49%.

IPO activity jumps in 2020: 147 US-based, VC-backed tech companies exit in IPOs in 2020, up sharply from the 90 IPO exits that took place in 2019. Meanwhile, M&A exits decline to 653 in 2020, from 679 in 2019. 

At the end of 2020, there are a record number of unicorn companies in the US: As of EoY 2020, there are 225 US-based, VC-backed private companies valued at $1B+, with a record 28 companies reaching unicorn status in Q4’20 alone.