If there were any doubts that entrepreneurial activity is hitting new highs, then new data from the National Venture Capital Association puts them to rest — venture capitalists invested $6.5 billion in 906 deals during the second quarter of 2010, thanks to a renewed interest in seed- and early-stage companies along with newfound enthusiasm for clean technology–oriented startups. This is in sharp contrast to a slowdown in the new money flowing into venture funds themselves.

In the first half of 2010, venture capital (VC) investments totaled $11.4 billion going into 1,646 deals, a 49 percent increase in dollars and a 23 percent increase in deals from the first half of 2009 when $7.7 billion was invested in 1,340 deals. [NVCA Press Release]

The data released by the NVCA and PricewaterhouseCoopers shows a sharp increase in seed- and early-stage companies in the April through June time frame. Such companies accounted for $2.3 billion in investments during the second quarter, while the actual number of seed- and early-stage deals jumped 32 percent to 429 compared to Q1 2010.

In fact, the sheer increase in first-time financings, aka companies receiving venture capital for the first time, is worth noting. First-time deals increased during the second quarter of this year by 27 percent compared to the the first quarter of 2010, with $1.1 billion going into 281 deals. Such first-time financings accounted for a whopping 31 percent of all deals in the second quarter, compared to 21 percent of all dollars and 30 percent of all deals in the first quarter of 2010. During the second quarter of 2009, first-time financings attracted $760 million.

Seed Stage Story

Seed- and early-stage companies received the bulk of first-time investments in Q2, garnering 63 percent of the dollars and 73 percent of the deals.

It is not a surprise — there has been a marked increase in the number of companies being funded in Silicon Valley these days. This increase in investment activity, especially around consumer web and mobile applications has been spurred on by the rise of super angels, who have emerged as a dominant new economic force in a rapidly changing startup ecosystem. The NVCA data confirms this trend. (Video: Angel Investor Chris Dixon on Startups and Why the VC Model is Broken.)

The average first-time deal in the second quarter was $4 million, which dropped from $4.7 million in the prior quarter, NVCA’s numbers show. First-time financings on an average garnered $4.96 million in 2008 and $4.34 million in 2009, indicating a slow decline in these deals. The data shows that during the second quarter of 2010, 77 Internet-only first-time deals brought in $180 million versus 56 deals that brought in $194 million during the first quarter of 2010.

Hollywood Shows Its Startup Game

About 276 Silicon Valley deals raised $2.92 billion in Q2 2010 versus 216 deals that raised $1.57 billion in Q1 2010. In New York, 93 deals garnered $382 million in the second quarter versus $583 million raised via 82 deals in the prior quarter. The New England region raised $582 million for 95 deals during the second quarter. Another region which saw a big bump — Los Angeles / Orange County: 67 deals ($687 million) in Q2 2010 versus 49 deals ($401 million) in Q1 2010, thanks to some active venture capitalists and angels.

There are no signs that investment activity is losing steam. Investors like Chris Sacca (watch his interview) are showing remarkable hunger for new Internet and mobile companies.

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