Dow Jones VentureSource data released on Wednesday indicated that the financial meltdown notwithstanding, venture capital investment in China, India and Israel still registered a rise last year, even though the figures plunged in the US! 

With a 5 percent increase over the 2007 figures, the venture capitalists' investments in start-ups in Europe, Israel and India rose to $13.4 billion; while the 8 percent drop in the investments in US, the figures fell to $28.8 billion. 

In China, a record $4.2 billion was invested by venture capitalists, marking a 50 percent increase over the year-before figures. The $716 million fourth quarter investment slowed marked a 9 percent drop from the year before. 

Though the annual growth was comparatively slower in India, the fourth quarter figures leaped a heartening 90 percent from the previous year, to reach $270 million; the total investment for the year being $864 million. 

The $1.9 billion in venture investment in Israel indicated a 19 increase from the year earlier; with the fourth quarter figures of $316 million depicting a 22 percent increase. A total of 32 information technology deals received 68 percent of the venture funding. 

The venture capital scenario in Europe was quite similar to that in the US - with the investments slowing down after a strong first quarter; however, investment in energy start-ups was still heartening!