We've had some funding coming in from other states to put into various phases of new business start-ups, but we're expecting more activity from funds coming from Houston and around Texas. Hale uses Austin as an example of the cycle he expects for Houston. A lot of the capital raised to start some of Austin's high-tech companies was raised outside the state.
Venture capitalists help new business concepts move from paper to reality.
Some offer seed funding to get a new business off the ground, while others offer funding in other phases of a venture's maturity. Some venture capitalists specialize in medical opportunities, while others look for new technology companies in specific industries. The hottest spot in Texas, from a venture capital standpoint, is in information technology. According to the Houston Venture Capitalist Association, venture capitalists may not only support new companies but they may put together a person with a marketable idea with an individual or firm who wants to invest in a start-up business. A highly attractive prospect for these jobs will have a master of business administration degree, public accounting and experience in taking a new business public.