<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ACORN VENTURE CAPITAL CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       13,594,345
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      17,181,704
<RECEIVABLES>                                  438,563
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   4,148
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                         1,561,537
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              19,185,952
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    3,035,619
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          3,035,619
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                 55,389
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    14,090,156
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        5,538,906
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        5,538,906
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                    1,135,252
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (781,921)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     1,680,457
<NET-ASSETS>                                16,179,333
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              434,000
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               18,494
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 593,500
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 185,349
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        860,645
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       105,000
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (931,000)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           34,645
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        274,607
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (886,921)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                185,349
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        16,179,333
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             2.91
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.15
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.16)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               2.92
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.01
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>