2015 was a year of growth on multiple fronts for The American Underground.

Companies based at the Underground’s Triangle locations created more than 400 jobs, generated 40 percent more investment capital than a year earlier, and also helped drive diversity in 2015.

Nearly 30 percent of its tenants now run by women, and another 22 percent are led by minorities. Both figures are far above national averages.

Plus, 227 companies now are housed at the three Underground locations – an increase of 21 percent over 2014.

More than 2,300 people now work at Underground-affiliated companies.

And there’s good news for job seekers: Startups and emerging companies at the Underground are continuing to hire.

Those are among the statistics released in the Underground’s annual report, which was published Wednesday.

The Underground, which launched six years ago, operates in Durham and in Raleigh. It is part of the American Tobacco Historic District operation, which is owned by WRAL TechWire corporate parent Capitol Broadcasting.

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Among highlights in the report:

  • “A 40% increase in venture funding over 2014 + 83% of companies that sought funding received it. This upends conventional wisdom on the availability of funding in the southeast.
  • “A 30% increase in jobs created
  • “29% of the American Underground’s businesses are led by women, 22.4% are minority-led. Nationally, approximately only 1 percent of startup founders are black and 8 percent are female (according to CB Insights).
  • “Durham is hot. In just two years, seven companies have exited to the tune of $1.5 billion”

“The numbers we’ve seen in 2015 show there is a lot of important startup activity originating in the Triangle from a wide range of entrepreneurs,” said Underground Chief Strategist Adam Klein. “We’ve been able to buck trends regarding diversity in tech that for many are aspirational talking points. We’re actually doing it here in Durham.”

The full report can be viewed at:

http://americanunderground.com/2014-2015-annual-report/

See job opportunities at:

http://americanunderground.com/american-underground-jobs/