Global VC investment during Q1â€�22 reached $144.8 billion, higher than all, but the four consecutive record-breaking quarters seen during 2021 â€� making for a robust result, despite the decline, according to the ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹Ù꿉۪s Venture Pulse report, covering Q1â€�2022.
The quarterly report, published by ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Private Enterprise, analyses key VC deals and trends globally in key jurisdictions around the world. While total investment remained strong, the number of VC deals dropped considerably â€� from 10,775 deals in Q4â€�21 to 9,349 in Q1â€�22 â€� as geopolitical and economic factors combined to create a storm of uncertainty in the market.
The Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation and interest rates, turbulence in the global capital markets, ongoing supply chain challenges, and surging cases of COVID-19 in a number of jurisdictions likely contributed to a slowdown in deal-making activity as VC investors enhanced their caution and focused more on due diligence.
VC investment declined in both the Americas and Asia during Q1�22. VC investment in the Americas fell from $103.3 billion in Q4�21 to $77.6 billion in Q1�22, while VC investment in Asia dropped from $55.2 billion to $32.6 billion. Only Europe bucked the downward trend, experiencing a modest increase from $31.5 billion in Q4�21 to $31.7 billion in Q1�22.
After a record year for exits, Q1�22 saw exit value drop more than 60% quarter-over-quarter - with just $122.3 billion in exit value across 684 deals, compared to $344.2 billion in exit value across 941 deals in Q4�21.