Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists’ Confidence Jumps Higher in the Second Quarter of 2023, According to University of San Francisco Quarterly Research Study
SAN FRANCISCO (August 30, 2023) – The Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist Confidence Index™ for the second quarter of 2023, based on a June 2023 survey of 38 San Francisco Bay Area venture capitalists, registered 3.69 on a 5-point scale (with 5 indicating high confidence and 1 indicating low confidence). The Q2 2023 Index leapt higher from the prior quarter’s reading of 3.40 and now stands above the 19+ year average of 3.65.
“The environment for venture capital appears to be recovering from what was a very difficult 2022 for the industry,” stated Mark Cannice, University of San Francisco (USF) School of Management professor and the study’s author. Cannice emphasized that a growing number of VCs who responded to his most recent survey found reasons for optimism, particularly around investments in AI-related startups.
“AI innovation is a major technological shift that benefits most of the Silicon Valley ecosystem,” said John Malloy of BlueRun Ventures in the Q2 report.
Additionally, Jeb Miller of Icon Ventures reported that “Rapid adoption of AI is accelerating roadmaps and providing significant disruption opportunities for startups across the vertical SaaS, digital health and security landscape.”
Some VC respondents to the Q2 survey research expressed concerns over regional policy issues that are impacting the business environment, as well as the livability in parts of the region. Furthermore, Tim Draper of Draper Associates suggested that “the US government is over regulating, and that places a dark cloud over the entire world of innovation. People are afraid to try things until they have permission.”
Dr. Cannice concluded the report by noting that “The historical advantage and well-established Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem should be strong enough to endure current policy hurdles as it has other challenges in the past.”
The survey and research report for Q2 2023 marks the 78th consecutive quarterly report since Q1 2004, providing unique quantitative and qualitative trend data and analysis on the confidence of Silicon Valley venture capitalists in the future high-growth entrepreneurial environment. Mark Cannice, professor of entrepreneurship and innovation with the USF School of Management, authors the research study each quarter.
Those interested in viewing the Q2 2023 report in its entirety should contact Kellie Samson at the University of San Francisco at ksamson@usfca.edu.
About the USF School of Management
Founded in 1925, University of San Francisco’s School of Management is on the forefront of educating the next generation of conscious, mindful business leaders. Each year those students join the over 40,000 School of Management alumni around the world to create ethical and innovative change in the private, public, and non-profit management sectors. The School of Management is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
About the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco is a private, Jesuit Catholic university that reflects the diversity, optimism, and opportunities of the city that surrounds it. USF offers more than 230 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, law, education, and nursing and health professions. At USF, each course is an intimate learning community in which top professors encourage students to turn learning into positive action, so the students graduate equipped to do well in the world — and inspired to change it for the better. For more information, visit usfca.edu.
