Here is a news item that is sobering for the Canadian VC industry. It turns out New Zealand is outperforming Canada on a per capita basis for venture investment:

New Zealand's venture capital and private equity industry has recorded 54 deals worth an adjusted investment value of $434 million in the past six months, according to new Ernst & Young figures.

This compares to $27 million across 25 deals in the same period last year, although last year's figures did not incorporate the activity of offshore funds in New Zealand.

This year's total investment figures included four large private equity deals at undisclosed sums: Metropolitan Glass, Hirepool, Tegel, and Griffins Foods, worth an estimated $287 million.

But even the reported investment amount for this year of $147 million is a huge growth on the previous $27 million.

I wonder if the NZ government has offered some kind of a tax incentive to investors? If so, maybe Canada should consider a similar policy.