Founded in 1978, NEA manages nearly $17 billion of committed capital across 15 funds. NEA has invested in 175 companies that have gone public and 290 that have successfully been merged or acquired. The firm concentrates on early stage companies in the areas of information technology, healthcare, and energy technology, typically investing in 20 to 30 new companies each year. NEA's first investment can range from $200,000 up to $40 million. NEA invests at all stages, but is especially interested in providing start-up capital, or the first outside funds a company raises. Although the majority of NEA's investments are in the United States, the firm invests internationally and is particularly interested in China and India. NEA announced (April 2015) the close of its fifteenth fund with $2.8 billion in committed capital to its core fund, as well as an additional $350 million for its NEA 15 Opportunity Fund.