Silver linings

European venture deals have hit a nine-year low. But Germany and cleantech remain bright spots, writes Amanda Janis.

Just like their US counterparts, European venture capitalists are having a rough year. For the second quarter in a row, deal volume was dismal and the exit environment remained bleak.

The second quarter saw 167 deals completed, a 35 percent drop from the same period last year, and the lowest quarterly total in nine years, according to the latest statistics from Dow Jones.