<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ACORN VENTURE CAPITAL CORPORATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       13,122,865
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      17,163,322
<RECEIVABLES>                                  458,093
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   4,555
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           951,782
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,577,752
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    2,433,064
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          2,433,064
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                 55,389
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    14,090,156
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        5,538,906
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        5,588,906
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      274,607
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (886,921)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     2,611,457
<NET-ASSETS>                                16,144,688
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              661,600
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               15,062
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,352,500
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 847,028
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,182,134
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        25,000
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      754,000
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,961,134
<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>                      (907,527)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (911,921)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            (24,858)
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                871,886
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        15,788,192
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             2.56
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.21
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               2.91
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.05
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>