Just two years ago, 117 venture-backed companies had IPOs totaling $15 billion in offer amount. However, in the first two quarters of 2016, there have been just 18 IPOs totaling less than $1.5 billion. This trend is largely a symptom of CEOs’ eagerness to remain private as long as possible as a means of focusing on long term growth without short term scrutiny. Unfortunately for venture funds, when companies with large valuations avoid IPOs, exits via M&A become more difficult and it is harder to return capital to investors.