Venture Capitalists Bullish on Greentech and Biotech, KPMG ...(cation that growth investors have become...)

Inside the U.S., it appears the West will continue to receive the bulk of capital, with 49 percent of respondents to KPMG's survey indicating this region will see more investment. The West was followed by the Northeast and the Southwest at 19 percent and 12 percent respectively.

The investors surveyed also expect rising merger and acquisition activity in the next year. Forty-nine percent expect an increase, with 33 percent believing it will be about the same levels, and only 11 percent foreseeing a decrease in deals during the period. Nearly half expect the domestic IPO market to maintain its 2007 rate in the next year, with just 26 percent saying they expect it will increase, and about 15 percent anticipating a decline indicating a concern over the market volatility experienced in the second half of the year.

A Changing Investment Community

Perceptions of the investment community are also changing. Venture capital firms are seeing increased competition from private equity and hedge funds as these firms look for novel strategies to deploy their hordes of capital earlier in the lifecycle of innovative companies. In fact, 66 percent indicated that they expect private equity firms will also continue to increase their presence in the venture capital market.

"We are seeing continued convergence between private equity and venture capital," said Brian Hughes, KPMG partner based in Philadelphia and co-leader of the venture capital practice. "Venture capital funds are adding private equity investments, and private equity funds are adding venture capital investments blurring the lines between the asset classes."

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm