VC's Favoring Shorter Lead Time Technologies
This article from techreview provides a mixed review of venture capital startup funding, stating:
"For the most part, companies just starting up are still struggling. And venture funding for one of technology’s most speculative, albeit promising, fields has been one of the biggest casualties... That means nanotech startups are finding it harder to do research in areas that could have tremendous long-range impact: new nanomaterials for optics and chip-cooling systems; biological diagnostics based on ultrasensitive nanosensors; and smart, automated delivery systems for protein drugs...
By contrast, areas of technology that require much less time in development are continuing to gain attention. One area that is attracting interest these days is RFID technology, which uses radio frequency identification tags that work like bar codes to track merchandise more precisely...
Other technology sectors finding favor with venture capitalists:
Mobile applications: entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are creating and funding companies that are developing new applications and services for cell phones, MP3 players, and other mobile devices...
Business on the Internet: the growing number of computers online and higher broadband penetration into households is helping business on the Internet to finally begin to fulfill its promise...
Anything having to do with IT security...Viruses, worms, and spyware are on the rise, and entrepreneurs have leaped at the chance to make a buck off the fears they inspire...
Biotech startups: people will always get sick. Health-care costs continue to soar, and the drug pipeline remains constricted. So investors are turning to biotech, and especially to drugs for cancer, inflammation, and neurological and infectious diseases."
