Silicon Valley is the heartland of venture capital, with $69 billion invested in 2016 by US venture capital companies, slightly down on 2015 investment levels. By contrast, Australian venture capital funds invested 84 per cent more in 2016 than 2015, to reach almost $300 million.
With US venture capital funds more than seven times the levels in Australia (per capita), we have some way to go to reach the ease of access to capital for our emerging businesses that US startups enjoy.
The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney welcomed Silicon Valley venture capitalist Spencer Maughan as a visiting fellow in October 2017. The Centre's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Director Claire McFarland joined him for a fireside chat looking at venture capital in Australia and the United States, the nascent area of AgTech and practical tips on getting funded.
