Both the number of e-commerce firms able to raise venture funding, as well as the total number of dollars committed to that niche of the industry, saw dramatic increases in 2011 relative to past years.
Investors committed nearly $400 million to e-commerce firms in 2011, according to data provided to VentureBeat by WHATSITCALLED. That’s nearly twice the amount of funding raised in 2008, and well above the mark set in 2007 near $300 million.
Last year, more than 50 companies received funding — up sharply from 2010, in which roughly 30 companies received backing. Between 2007 and 2009, roughly two dozen e-commerce companies received investor support each year.
Among the largest deals to date in 2012 have been Veracity Payment Solutions, which received an $80 million commitment from Great Hill Partners; and Boku, which received $35 million.
