Research Resources

Venture Forward is the go-to resource for research and data on the venture capital industry. Research produced by Venture Forward, as well as from third-parties, offers insights into the role and impact of venture capital on our economy and innovation.

Our Research

2020 VC Human Capital Survey:

What does the venture capital (VC) industry workforce look like in terms of demographics? What is the current state of VC diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? The VC Human Capital Survey, powered by Deloitte, National Venture Capital Association, and Venture Forward, answers these and other questions for VC firms seeking to expand the diversity of both their teams and portfolios.

The third edition of our VC Human Capital Survey assesses the state of the US VC industry workforce, with a special focus on DEI. Results from this edition were benchmarked against findings from the first and second editions, which were originally conducted in 2016 and 2018. Conducted in 2020, this third edition requested firm demographic information (e.g., investment stage focus) and demographic information for each employee (e.g., gender and race). Additionally, firms were asked to provide information regarding their talent management practices and DEI programs.

While there have been other industry assessments of VC diversity, this survey provides a more holistic perspective. We gathered data from VC firms of all types and sizes, examined DEI for a variety of groups across all types of positions, and assessed firm talent management strategies. (Learn more.)

Community Resources

We’ve created this list of organizations, programs, and resources that provide valuable research on the venture capital industry, its trends, impacts, and best practices.

Click the links below to learn more about these organizations and what research services or resources they provide, and how you or your firm can access them.

For more details about each category of services, mouse over the question marks at the top of the grid.

Community Resources	Education & Best Practices ? VC PD events, opportunities, and materials, best practice guides	Hiring & Pipeline ? Opportunities for those seeking or offering VC jobs	Research & Data ? Studies, research, data, white papers	Resource Collection ? Collections of VC-related resources that may cover a variety of topics
#OpenLP	X		X	X
Catalyst	X	X	X
Paradigm	X		X	X
PitchBook			X	X

One of Venture Forward’s primary goals is to break down barriers to entry, participation, and success within the VC ecosystem. To that end, we curate the community research resources we feature to prioritize those that are free or low-cost. This is not an exhaustive list of the community research resources available within this industry, but rather, one focused on broadly expanding knowledge, accessibility and inclusion.

If you believe that your organization (or specific research you offer) meets these criteria, please apply to be featured as a community resource and submit your information, here. If you have any questions about this process, please email Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Readings

We’ve created this list of readings and research materials that support industry knowledge and understanding. Click the links below to access the full materials:

The research readings listed here revolve around one of Venture Forward’s four mission pillars: Research – conducting and sharing meaningful research on VC trends and impact. In curating these materials, we prioritize readings that provide industry insights with data and analysis or durable information, as opposed to opinion pieces or non-data-driven commentary.

This is not an exhaustive list of readings or research resources available, but rather, one focused on providing meaningful, long-term value.

If you have a suggestion for reading material or research resources that meets our criteria, please reach out to Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Our Research

NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey
The NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey was designed to capture critical data on the workforce at venture capital (VC) firms, develop a baseline understanding of demographics within the VC industry, and uncover the current state of diversity and inclusion (D&I) across the industry. The survey is intended to be an educational resource for venture capital firms to understand how to expand the diversity of their teams and portfolio companies.

About the NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey, Second Edition…
The NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey, second edition, is the latest installment of an ongoing survey series that assesses the state of talent management, with a special focus on D&I, in the U.S. VC industry. Results from the second edition were benchmarked against baseline findings from the first edition, which was originally conducted in 2016. The survey, conducted in 2018, requested firm demographic information (e.g., investment stage focus) and demographic information for each employee (e.g., gender and race). Additionally, the survey asked firms to provide information regarding firm talent management practices and diversity and inclusion programs.

Although there have been other assessments of diversity in the VC industry, this survey provides a unique perspective. Unlike other research efforts in this area, it gathers data from VC firms of all types and sizes, examines diversity for a variety of groups across all types of positions, and assesses firm talent management strategies.

The second edition of the survey collected information from 203 VC firms, representing an aggregate total of $149.4 billion in assets, on their talent management practices and on the demographics of more than 2,700 employees.

[Launch button] Our findings indicate that firms have the power to change the diversity story. Click the launch button to see the dashboard and begin exploring.

[Download button] In addition to the dashboard, NVCA and the Deloitte University Leadership Center for Inclusion developed a written report to dive deeper into the numbers and draw out key insights on what steps can be taken to create a more inclusive venture capital industry.

Readings

We’ve created this list of readings and research materials that support industry knowledge and understanding. Click the links below to access the full materials:

List of Readings

The research readings listed here revolve around one of Venture Forward’s four mission pillars: Research – conducting and sharing meaningful research on VC trends and impact. In curating these materials, we prioritize readings that provide industry insights with data and analysis or durable information, as opposed to opinion pieces or non-data-driven commentary.

This is not an exhaustive list of readings or research resources available, but rather, one focused on providing meaningful, long-term value.

If you have a suggestion for reading material or research resources that meets our criteria, please reach out to Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Community Resources

We’ve created this list of organizations, programs, and resources that provide valuable research on the venture capital industry, its trends, impacts, and best practices. Click the links below to learn more about these organizations and what research services or resources they provide, and how you or your firm can access:

Spreadsheet of resources

One of Venture Forward’s primary goals is to break down barriers to entry, participation, and success within the VC ecosystem. To that end, we curate the community research resources we feature to prioritize those that are free or low-cost.
This is not an exhaustive list of the community research resources available within this industry, but rather, one focused on broadly expanding knowledge, accessibility and inclusion.

If you believe that your organization (or specific research you offer) meets these criteria, please apply to be featured as a community resource and submit your information, here. If you have any questions about this process, please email Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.