Philly’s Biggest Venture Capital Deals of 2015

Local companies raised $539 million in 2015, the most since 2008.

(Bullstar/Shutterstock)

(Bullstar/Shutterstock)

Whether they’re startups or well-established in their fields, companies of many shapes, sizes and categories were on the hunt for venture capital funding in 2015 — and business in biotechnology, software and medical devices cashed in big time.

Venture capitalists made more than $539 million in investments in Philadelphia-area companies 2015 — the most since 2008 ($675 million.) It represents a 15 percent increase from 2014, when $465 million was raised. The numbers come from the newly released PwC/NVCA MoneyTree Report based on data from Thomson Reuters.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, VCs invested $121 million — but that’s an 18 percent drop from Q4 of 2014, when $148 million was invested.

The fourth quarter was led by a $37.1 million raise by Galera Labs, a Malvern, Pa.-based company that’s developing new treatments for cancer patients. Accolade, a Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based consumer health engagement platform for large employers and insurers, raised $16.1 million in the quarter.

Companies based in Philadelphia proper raised nearly $50 million in investment dollars in 2015, with $14 million coming in Q4. The largest raise was nearly $8 million by Sidecar Interactive Inc., which provides an automated online marketing platform for e-commerce companies.

Check out the following tables for more details:

Largest Greater Philadelphia VC Investments in 2015

CompanyAmountCityIndustryBusiness Description
SevOne Inc.$47,078,000WilmingtonIT ServicesProvides IT performance management software.
Aclaris Therapeutics Inc$38,199,600MalvernBiotechnologySpecialty pharmaceutical company.
Galera Labs LLC$37,103,000MalvernBiotechnologyDevelops drugs targeting the oxygen metabolic pathways.
Intact Vascular Inc.$35,309,000WayneMedical Devices and EquipmentDevelops minimally invasive peripheral vascular products.
Neuronetics Inc.$34,342,900MalvernMedical Devices and EquipmentA medical device company.
Coredial LLC$27,500,000Blue BellSoftwareOffers software-as-a-service platform.
CloudBees Inc.$22,976,000LewesSoftwareProvides a continuous delivery platform as a service.
Accolade Inc.$22,500,000Plymouth MeetingHealthcare ServicesProvides healthcare-related information services.
InfaCare Pharmaceutical Corp.$20,000,000TrevoseBiotechnologyOperates as a specialty pharmaceutical company.
PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals Inc.$19,100,000MalvernBiotechnologyA biopharmaceutical company.

Largest Greater Philadelphia VC Investments in Q4 of 2015

CompanyAmountCityIndustryBusiness Description
Galera Labs LLC$37,103,000MalvernBiotechnologyDevelops drugs targeting the oxygen metabolic pathways.
Accolade, Inc.$16,100,000Plymouth MeetingHealthcare ServicesProvides healthcare related information services.
Velicept Therapeutics Inc.$11,329,000MalvernBiotechnologyA clinical development company.
Sidecar Interactive Inc.$7,999,900PhiladelphiaIT ServicesProvides an automated online marketing platform for e-commerce companies.
Phenom People Inc.$6,830,000HorshamSoftwarePhenom People is a talent relationship marketing company.
Agilence, Inc.$6,000,000Mount LaurelSoftwareOffers cloud-based reporting solutions.
Freedompay Inc.$5,600,000WayneIT ServicesEngaged in offering payment technology.
ReliefBand Technologies LLC$5,000,000JenkintownMedical Devices and EquipmentA therapeutic technology company.
Ella Health Inc.$4,608,000West ChesterHealthcare ServicesProvides services, including mammography and physical therapy.
Journey Sales, Inc.$3,400,000ConshohockenSoftwareProvides customer engagement solutions for sales professionals.

Metro Philly VC Funding by Category

Industry2013 Total2014 Total2015 Total
Biotechnology$153,110,000$191,902,000$160,898,600
Business Products and Services$0$52,541,000$9,000,000
Computers and Peripherals$0$100,000$250,000
Consumer Products and Services$6,950,000$530,000$5,875,000
Electronics/Instrumentation$0$3,205,000$2,055,200
Financial Services$0$13,506,000$50,000
Healthcare Services$36,100,000$5,075,000$45,307,800
Industrial/Energy$1,285,000$54,790,100$11,725,100
IT Services$79,110,100$19,513,100$70,696,900
Media and Entertainment$2,888,900$4,025,200$2,100,000
Medical Devices and Equipment$19,823,000$14,625,000$122,284,700
Networking and Equipment$200,000$0$500,000
Other$0$0$75,000
Retailing/Distribution$100,000$400,000$0
Semiconductors$350,000$565,000$0
Software$95,114,200$104,727,200$106,288,000
Telecommunications$100,000$150,000$2,200,200
TOTAL$395,131,200$465,654,600$539,306,500

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