for full disclosure information refer to the last page of this report executive summary entrepreneurial confidence rose 6 3 in fourth quarter 2004 compared third increase past five quarters brought vfinance index veci a new all time high as it stood 36 0 above level year ago measure interest starting businesses at 210 5 2002 100 indicating that has more than doubled two years coincides with improvement innovation economy throughout most we identified gap divergent trends between rising desire start seen and declining trend financing falling levels venture capital vc funding weak ipo market one critical weaknesses us began narrow investment activity grew rapidly firms funded 747 deals
