If you're having trouble keeping track of the number of new communications companies popping up, you're not alone. Start-ups have been emerging at an astounding rate and there's a reason behind it: Last year, venture capitalists poured more money into them than ever. According to Price Waterhouse's annual National Venture Capital Survey, $1,233 billion was invested in telecom companies in 1997; that's $493 million more than the previous year. The only investment category to exceed telecom was the Internet, which doubled its 1996 performance to end the year at $1.88 billion in venture funding. As they say in investment circles, past performance is no indication of future results. But the evidence suggests that the telecom gold rush will not be slowing down any time soon.
展开▼
