An overwhelming majority of entrepreneurs (72%) say the fundraising environment is somewhat or extremely challenging.
That’s according to Silicon Valley Bank’s ninth annual Startup Outlook report, which also found that 70% of startups believe the outlook for international fundraising will remain as it is or improve this year.
Just under half of those surveyed (47%) said they expected their next source of funding to come from venture capital – decreasing from 56% of respondents who said the same last year.
Some 49% of participants said their realistic long-term goal was to be acquired (compared to 55% in 2017), while 51% said they expected to pursue an IPO (16% said the same last year).
Overall, 89% of startups said they expected to see at least as many acquisitions in 2018 as last year, compared to 85% in 2017...