DURHAM – Three sets of venture capital data in reports out over the last week have painted a rosy picture both nationally and across North Carolina. But what do the numbers really mean beyond good headline news?

WRAL TechWire reached out to several experts on the startup ecosystem to share their thoughts about the numbers’ significance.

Here are links to the WRAL TechWire stories:

First up is Jay Bigelow, director of entrepreneurship at the Council for Entrepreneurial Development. The CED compiles its own data to track a broader performance of the ecosystem beyond VC. But he sees some good news in these figures – perhaps a bit overblown – but encouraging nevertheless.

  • Quick overview

“While the 1H 2018 investment dollars are strong, they are probably not record setting.

“We have not verified all of our numbers yet, but 1H 2018 is probably comparable to 1H 2017 and  keep in mind last year two of the biggest deals in the year both occurred in 1H 2017 ( Smart Sky networks $175million and Avidxchange $300million)

“What I do think it indicates is the region continues its solid steady progress.

“By comparison in 2010 we had just $428 million invested for the entire year.

“In the first half of each of the past three years, we had $418M (1H ’16) $787 (1H’17) and now $760+ million

  • Why the good news?

“On the national level there is more dollars flowing into both VC funds and PE shops (alternative investing as a whole is more attractive) so there are many more investors with bigger checkbooks, looking for companies to invest in.

“In addition there are multiple active seed investors and corporate investors will now invest in earlier ‘less proven’ companies.

“In sum, it’s a good time to be raising money if you are venture back-able business.”

  • How about the Triangle?

“I think the consistency in the number of companies, number of deals and dollars demonstrate this is a more mature ecosystem that perhaps it has been in the past.

“While on a relative basis we aren’t yet a Boston or Silicon Valley (and perhaps never should be/want to be) we are being recognized as a legitimate, and consistent entrepreneurial community.  We field calls every week from investors out of the region wanting to know who they should be following/meeting with.

  • Crystal ball

“Prediction for the rest of the year?

“Astrong first half does not guarantee a strong second half.

“Stuff happens.

“And just like every other market big deals (or the lack of them) will sway the end of year numbers. But investors are looking for great companies.

“What will increase our odds of continuing to increase deal flow are having high-profile. big idea companies continue to make great progress; Pendo, Precision BioSciences, nCino, Humacyte,  Precisionhawk.

“These are just a few examples but can be bellwethers for the region.”

Part two: The life science view: Joan Siefert Rose of LaunchBio offers her analysis.