Private equity fundraising had another very strong showing in Q1 2006 with 93 funds raising a combined $31.4 bln, according to Thomson Venture Economics and the National Venture Capital Association. 51 venture funds accounted for $6.5 bln of the total while 42 buyout vehicles raised $24.9 bln. While these figures show a decline from Q4 2005, they are a significant increase over the Q1 2005. Venture dollars raised in Q1 2005 declined by 13.1% over Q4 2005 when 63 funds attracted $7.5 bln, but gained by 21.2% over the Q1 2005 when 59 funds took in $5.4 bln. On the buyout side the respective differences were more pronounced. $24.9 bln in Q1 2006 represents a 22.1% fall off $31.9 bln in Q4 2005, the largest amount of money ever raised by buyout funds in a single quarter. However, Q1 2006 outpaced by 76.8% Q1 2005 when 49 funds raised $14 bln.