NEA has the venture market’s largest fund, so it’s not too surprising that it tops this list. The firm has invested in 15 companies so far this year, including first-time investments for Nordic Windpower, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Solar Junction, Ra PHarmaceuticals and One Block Off The Grid.
When is 14 deals in 10 weeks considered sluggish? When the firm closed 14 deals in the preceding month (December ’09).
Still, tied for second place ain’t too shabby for Kleiner Perkins, which is another firm with lots of cash to invest. New portfolio companies in 2010 include TransMedics, Pulmonx, UpWind Solutions, ReputationDefender and Amyris Brasil.
Intel Capital was the busiest VC shop last decade, and so far this year has made 13 investments. It also recently announced a big commitment to Brasil, and somehow got press for a promise to keep making VC investments (great PR, dumb journalism).
New investments this year for Intel Capital include Betaworks Studio, July Systems and SpectraWatt.
Redpoint’s year has been marked by one of its portfolio companies doing a memorable Super Bowl ad (HomeAway) and anticipation over the Solyndra IPO, but it also has managed to do 13 new deals.
Portfolio additions include Clicker Media, Plastic Jungle, Posterous and Tantalus Systems. Last year, Redpoint invested in just 25 different companies.
Sequoia may be tied for third place with Intel Capital and Redpoint, but it takes the prize for most new portfolio investments with eight (no idea what the prize is… should be send flowers?)
New newbies are: Implantable Provider Group, Prudent Energy, Acton Pharmaceuticals, Beijing Jiuhe Changpin Technology, Hantele Telecom Science & Technology, Huayi Network, Blipify and Snaptu.
Benchmark matched Intel Capital with 12 investments so far this year, which is a heady pace considering that Benchmark invested in just 33 companies all of last year.
Portfolio additions include Clicker Media, GaiKai, Nicera Networks, Rambus and Scale Computing.
Polaris apparently wasn’t too concerned about dry powder issues, despite launching a new fundraising drive earlier this year (word is the firm will close on around $500m early next month).
The bi-coastal firm has deals so far in 2010, including a new one called Saga Investments and today’s seed deal for JIBE. Last year, Polaris invested in 51 different companies.
No more Tony Sun, but the deals keep coming. Venrock closed 11 transactions since New Year’s Day, including for new portfolio plays Chelsae Therapeutics and Smartling.
Last year, Venrock invested in 52 different companies.
Three firms tied for 10th place with 10 deals each: Bessemer Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Juvertson and Menlo Ventures.
We’re still a few weeks away from Q3 venture capital deal data, but fired up the old database to see which firms have been the most active so far.
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