Abstract. The present paper aims at characterising the venture capital market and identifying factors affecting the venture capital investments activity in Romania in the period 2000-2010. With a view to assessing the intensity of manifestation of various factors on the supply and demand of venture capital we use an econometric model of macroeconomic variables already tested in the literature. We consider, however, that we bring contributions to the approach, by analysing the features of the venture capital market in Romania and impact factors, our work being, at the same time, support in assessing the types of decisions to be adopted by policymakers to the formation of an authentic market and stimulating innovation. Our results indicate that the total R&D intensity is the main determinant of the venture capitals invested in this period in the two phases (for early stages and expansion). A significant incidence, mainly on the supply side, also shows the annual long term real interest rate, while the market capitalisation, the effective marginal tax rate on corporate income, the annual inflation or unemployment rate do not impact on the venture capital. Our recommendations, in terms of formation and development of the venture capital market, look as a priority, strengthening the demand for resources, respectively encouraging of enterprises to innovate, creating of conditions for the supply to be manifested in the seed and start-up stages and the compatibilization of the need for resources with prudential rules by adapting regulations for institutional investors.

Keywords: venture capital; innovation; enterprise; research and development.