Biotech and Greentech to Attract More Capital in 2008, KPMG Study Says

Venture capitalists will largely direct their investments to the greentech and biotech industries in the coming year, while China and India remain hot destinations for venture funds, according to a recent survey by the auditing firm KPMG.

When 350 venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, corporate buyers, investment bankers, and research analysts were asked in a KPMG poll to identify the industry sectors that would receive the most capital over the next two years, 24% indicated greentech/cleantech, which was followed by biotech/pharmaceuticals at 15%. Internet services were cited by 13% and mobile technology by 11%.

According to the survey, 51% of respondents indicated they expect venture capital activity to continue rising in 2008. Some 34% said investment activity will at least remain the same in the coming year and fewer than 12% anticipated a decrease in investment volume.

Outside the US, China and India were the overwhelming investment favorites of 29% and 23% of the respondents, respectively. Further, 64% of respondents indicated that China and India are the most attractive locations for entrepreneurs to find funding, while 61% of those surveyed expect both to have increased IPO activity over the next two years.