Revolution & the Venture Capital Industry in 2014
As we reflect back on 2014, it goes without saying that it was an excellent and rewarding one for our firm and partners, as well as a big year for the venture capital industry. According to data from the National Venture Capital Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers venture capitalists invested $48.3 billion in U.S. startups last year, the most since 2000.
This year, Revolution Growth and Revolution Ventures made new investments in several innovative companies, which joined our growing portfolios. Through every new investment, we continue to be invigorated and inspired by the passionate entrepreneurs behind these disruptive companies. You can read more about our 2014 investments here.
We also invite you to take a moment and read our 2014 year-end summaries from Revolution Growth and Revolution Ventures.
2014 Revolution Growth Awards:
- Revolution Foods made the Inner City 100 List published by Fortune and founders, Kristen Groos Richmond and Kirsten Saenz Toby, were named Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink by Fortunemagazine.
- Handy cofounder Oisin Hanrahan was named Young Entrepreneur of the Week by The Huffington Post, and co-founder Umang Dua was named to the coveted Forbes 30 Under 30 List. Handy was also named one of the Hottest Startups of 2014 by Forbes.
- sweetgreen was named to the Most Powerful Brands list by the Washington Business Journal and named a 2014 Corporate Growth Award finalist by ACG. Founders Nicolas Jammet, Jonathan Neman, and Nathanial Ru named as finalists in EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 for the Greater Washington region.
- CustomInk made Fortune magazine’s Top Retail Workplace.
- Lolly Wolly Doodle (#318) and Bigcommerce (#1997) each ranked on the 2014 Inc. 5000 List.
- Optoro was a Venture Deal of the Year finalist at the 2014 Corporate Growth Awards by The National Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. It was also NVTC’s Hottest VC Deal, Emerging Firm of the Year finalist at The Tech Council of Maryland’s (TCM) 26th Annual Industry Awards, and #229 on the Fastest Growing Companies in North America on Deloitte’s 2014 Technology Fast 500. Co-founder and CEO Tobin Moore is an EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 for the Greater Washington region.
- Resonate ranked #1611 on the 2014 Inc. 5000 List, was recognized as one of The Washington Post Top Workplaces and named among OnMedia 100 Top Private Companies by AlwaysOn.CEO Bryan Gernert was a finalist in EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 for the Greater Washington region.
2014 Revolution Ventures Awards:
- Busbud named one of the 5 Montreal Startups to Watch and founder and CEO, LP Maurice, is a 2014 NYC Venture Fellow
- OrderUp founder and CEO Chris Jeffery was named a 40 Under 40 CEO by the Baltimore Business Journal
- RunKeeper was named a 2014 Top Place to Work by The Boston Globe
2014 Rise of the Rest
Earlier this year, we predicted that a “Rise of the Rest” in new entrepreneurial ecosystems throughout the U.S. would accelerate with record increases in venture capital investments going to regions outside of Silicon Valley. We’re excited about the trends and momentum and are proud of our strategy to invest in companies in off the beaten path locations. Read more here!
