Venture Capital Climbs as 'Web 2.0' Bubble Expands Rapidly

"Venture capitalists invested $25.5 billion in 2006, marking the industry's biggest burst of dealmaking since the dot-com bust clogged the financial spigot for entrepreneurs five years ago.

A renewed interest in Internet startups, combined with expanding opportunities in the health care and alternative energy markets, spurred a 12 percent increase from the $22.8 billion invested in 2005, according to figures jointly released Tuesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Financial and the National Venture Capital Association.

Last year's activity, spread across 3,416 deals, generated the highest level of investment since venture capitalists forked out $40.7 billion in 2001, the end of a manic era driven by a lemming-like pursuit of dot-com riches. "