A Big Quarter for Venture Capital

Tom Hewlett (right), senior scientist at Pasteuria Bioscience, and Bruce Martin, a plant pathologist, apply nematode-killing bacteria on ornamental plants. The company received $5.3 million in VC funding in the second quarter.

Fifteen Florida firms landed $127 million in venture capital in the second quarter, according to the latest Pricewaterhouse-Coopers/ National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree report. In the year-earlier period, VCs invested a little more than half of that amount in Florida companies, $69 million. For the first half of this year, Florida firms nabbed $276 million in VC funding, compared with $129 million in the first six months of 2006. The Florida companies that received funding in the second quarter:

» Accu-Break Pharmaceuticals (formerly known as SoLapharm), Plantation, accubreak.com
Received: $5,649,900
Industry: Biotechnology
Description: Develops technologies for pharmaceutical tablets
Investors in Q2: Pequot Capital Management; S.A.C. Capital; undisclosed firm

» Applied Genetic Technologies, Alachua, agtc.com
Received: $12,550,200
Industry: Biotechnology
Description: Develops therapeutics for medical patients
Investors in Q2: InterWest Partners; Intersouth Partners; MedImmune; Skyline Ventures; undisclosed firm

» Authentium, Palm Beach Gardens, authentium.com
Received: $3,600,000
Industry: Software
Description: Develops system encapsulation, file and application defense
Investors in Q2: Safeguard Scientifics; Westbury Partners; undisclosed firms

» Avant Healthcare Professionals, Winter Park, avanthealthcare.com
Received: $1,000,000
Industry: Healthcare Services
Description: Provides nurses and therapists on contract with hospitals
Investors in Q2: LFE Capital

» Avalon Healthcare Holdings, Tampa, avalonhealthcare.net
Received: $3,479,000
Industry: Healthcare Services
Description: Provides health insurance plans to small to midsized businesses
Investors in Q2: Inter-Atlantic Group; undisclosed firm

Tags: Around Florida, Banking & Finance