Venture funds' big rebound

Fundraising by venture capital firms and their big cousins, buyout firms, is on track to hit new records, which could pump more money into Silicon Valley companies and start-ups.

In the second quarter ended June 30, 50 venture capital firms raised $11.2 billion, the most since the first quarter of 2001 and well beyond the $6.8 billion raised in the first quarter of 2006, according to a report released Monday by Thomson Financial and the National Venture Capital Association.

Buyout firms raised $30.8 billion for the quarter, setting a record for the most money raised during the first half of a year: $53 billion.