Amy Huffman

Thoughts on Yo, Tulips and Bubbles by Appia's CEO and ExitEvent's Data Geek

Posted by Amy Huffman | Jul 7, 2014

As for venture capital, after hovering below $30 billion for the past four years, total venture capital disbursements could reach $36 billion this year if 2014’s Q1 numbers continue, according to National Venture Capital Association (NCVA) data. But the lack of growth in VC funds the past few years doesn’t lend much hope for an influx of new money available to startups. These data seem to indicate money isn’t as easy to come by as we would probably see if we were in a bubble. Indeed, in December 2012, CB Insights predicted 1,000 startups would die because they wouldn’t...

Failure Sucks, But Yours Might Help Us All

Posted by Amy Huffman | Jun 12, 2014

Remember the expression, �It’s better to try and fail than never try at all,�? As it turns out, the expression is probably true if you’re an entrepreneur; the economy benefits more from your ventures’ failure than if you never start your venture. At least that’s what Brookings Institution economists Ian Hathaway and Robert Litan conclude in the report released on May 5th, 2014, Declining Business Dynamism in the United States: A Look at States and Metros. By now you’ve probably read the report, or at least read an article citing it. The report has been so widely circulated and...

With Growing Economy and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Is North Carolina Bucking a National Trend?

Posted by Amy Huffman | May 13, 2014

While the national entrepreneurial activity rate has steadily declined since its peak in 2010, NC’s rate declined initially after 2010 but rose again from 2012-2013. Why is this? What makes us different? If NC’s economic health was inversely related to the entrepreneurship rate in NC, we might expect to see NC’s unemployment rate also rise in 2013. However, as shown in Figure 2, NC’s unemployment rate not only dropped in 2013—it was the 5th largest drop in the country, steadily dropping from its peak in 2010 (though it remains higher than the national average). As seen in the chart...

Telehealth; Delivering on a Long-Promised Solution to the Healthcare System’s Inherent Pain-Points

Posted by Amy Huffman | Sep 19, 2012

This is the first in a series exploring the telehealth sector and the Triangle-based companies behind its rise as a complement to traditional healthcare delivery. Before my son reached his second birthday, we visited his pediatrician’s office at least 40 times. Some of those visits were scheduled, monthly or bi-monthly check-ups. But most were unscheduled—ear infections, common colds, and more ear infections left me scrambling to get to the doctor’s walk-in hours at least once a month. The inconvenience of visiting the pediatrician is always worth it—if it turns out my son actually is sick. When he’s not? Well,...

Telehealth; Delivering on a Long-Promised Solution to the Healthcare System’s Inherent Pain-Points

Posted by Amy Huffman | Sep 19, 2012

This is the first in a series exploring the telehealth sector and the Triangle-based companies behind its rise as a complement to traditional healthcare delivery. Before my son reached his second birthday, we visited his pediatrician’s office at least 40 times. Some of those visits were scheduled, monthly or bi-monthly check-ups. But most were unscheduled—ear infections, common colds, and more ear infections left me scrambling to get to the doctor’s walk-in hours at least once a month. The inconvenience of visiting the pediatrician is always worth it—if it turns out my son actually is sick. When he’s not? Well,...

Volume and Average Size Venture Capital Deals are Up in Q1-Q2 2016

Posted by Amy Huffman | Sep 19, 2012

While national venture capital (VC) activity continues to drop, investments in North Carolina companies continue to rise. According to the National Venture Capital Association venture capital investments are up nearly $9 million since this time last year in NC. The pure number of VC deals struck this far, 32, is also up from the 29 reported a year ago. But of those 32 deals, five are notable for their size. Those deals add up to a whopping $185.4 million, or 75 percent of the total raised to date in 2016. The top five dealmakers share a few common characteristics. They’re mostly...