Industry

The type of and source for private equity capital that your company should seek depends in part upon its industry focus, as many angels and venture capitalists invest in only certain industry sectors. A company can sometimes be described by more than one industry classification, but it is important to represent your company's industry affiliations to investors honestly and appropriately so that you waste neither your time nor theirs.

In the video to the left, Springboard Board Member Cal Hackeman reviews industries that are attractive to venture capitalists.

 Kaltura
National Venture Capital Association Highlights and Trends:
The National Venture Capital Association, a Springboard partner, uses the following criteria to define companies' industry.

Biotechnology
Developers of technology promoting drug development, disease treatment, and a deeper understanding of living organisms. Includes human, animal, and industrial biotechnology products and services. Also included are biosensors, biotechnology equipment, and pharmaceuticals

Business Products and Services
Offers a product or service targeted at another business such as advertising, consulting, and engineering services. Also includes distributors, importers, and wholesalers.

Computers and Peripherals
Includes manufacturers and distributors of PCs, mainframes, servers, PDAs, printers, storage devices, monitors, and memory cards. Also included are digital imaging and graphics services and equipment such as scanning hardware, graphics video cards and plotters. Integrated turnkey systems and solutions are also included in this category

Electronics/Instrumentation
Includes electronic parts that are components of larger products and specialized instrumentation, including scientific instruments, lasers, power supplies, electronic testing products, power supplies, and display panels. Also included are business and consumer electronic devices such as photocopiers, calculators, and alarm systems.< br />

Financial Services
Providers of financial services to other businesses or individuals including banking, real estate, brokerage services, and financial planning.

Healthcare Services
Includes both in-patient and out-patient facilities as well as health insurers. Included are hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, managed care organizations, Physician Practice Management Companies, child care and emergency care.

Industrial/Energy
Producers and suppliers of energy, chemicals, and materials, industrial automation companies and oil and gas exploration companies. Also included are environmental, agricultural, transportation, manufacturing, construction and utility-related products and services.

IT Services
Providers of computer and internet-related services to businesses and consumers including computer repair, software consulting, computer training, machine leasing/rental, disaster recovery, web design, data input and processing, internet security, e-commerce services, web hosting and systems engineering.

Media and Entertainment
Creators of products or providers of services designed to inform or entertain consumers including movies, music, consumer electronics such as TVs/stereos/games, sports facilities and events, recreational products or services. Online providers of consumer content are also included in this category (medical, news, education, legal)

Medical Devices and Equipment
Manufactures and/or sells medical instruments and devices including medical diagnostic equipment (X-ray, CAT scan, MRI), medical therapeutic devices (drug delivery, surgical instruments, pacemakers, artificial organs), and other health related products such as medical monitoring equipment, handicap aids, reading glasses and contact lenses.

Retailing/Distribution
Firms making consumer goods and services available for consumer purchase including discount stores, supercenters, drug stores, clothing and accessories retailers, computer stores and book stores. Also included in this group are e-Commerce companies ---those selling their products or services via the Internet.

Semiconductors
Design, develop or manufacture semiconductor chips/microprocessors ore related equipment including diodes and transistors. Also includes companies that test or package integrated circuits.Producers of bundled and/or unbundled software applications for business or consumer use inlcuding software created for systems, graphics, communications and networking, security, inventory, home use,educational, or recreational. Also included is software developed for specific industries such as banking, manufacturing, transportation, or healthcare.

Telecommunications
Companies focused on the transmission of voice and data including long distance providers, local exchange carriers, and wireless communications services and components. Also included are satellite and microwave communications services and equipment.