The National Venture Capital Association and Cambridge Associates released Q1 venture capital performance numbers predicting strong and steady improvement for the year. The full report is available for download here.

Via Press Release

Venture capital performance continued on a gradual upward trajectory as of the first quarter of 2011 according to the Cambridge Associates U.S. Venture Capital Index, the performance benchmark of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). The improvements were seen across all time horizons, with the exception of the 15- year numbers, and were driven by the strong one-year venture capital return of 18.5 percent. The quarter marks the second consecutive one in which there were double digit returns for the one- year horizon and modest improvements in the three-, five-, and ten- year performance numbers. Venture capital returns outperformed the public indices in the one-, five-, 15- and 20-year horizons.

The press release is available here.