Arlington, Va. - U.S. companies that received venture capital from 1970-2005 accounted for 10 million jobs and $2.1 trillion in revenues in 2005, according to a new study by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA).

That represents 9% of the total private sector work force and about one-sixth of total U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).

The study includes companies that raised venture capital but have since gone public, such as FedEx, Intel, Cisco, eBay and Home Depot.

"We took three different measurements at three different points in the business cycle with unwavering results," said Mark Lauritano, the managing director of Global Insight's Lending & Payments Practice, which conducted the study for the NVCA.

"The economic contribution that venture-backed companies make is sustainable and growing."

Related Links:
http://nvca.org/pdf/VIPressreleasefinal.pdf (PDF)