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Nearly 20% of Top 100 VCs on Midas List Do Deals in China

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The impact of tech innovation in China can be seen in the just-released Forbes Midas listing of top venture investors.

Of the 100 top tech investors on the list, 17 VCs are actively investing in the Chinese market or have made at least one deal in the Mainland. If you add in those who have overseen their firm's strategy in China, the group expands to 19, including such notables as Jim Breyer of Accel and John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins.

Next to the U.S., China soars on a breakdown of geographic markets on the Forbes list. China also out-distances that other notable Asian venture market, India, by a long shot. India counts three dealmakers within the ranking. Remarkably, some 20% of the top 100 VCs have invested in these two emerging markets, a major development in recent years for these Startup Asia markets.  See full 2013 Midas list here.

The top 100 ranking for 2013 includes several newcomers who have backed startups in China: Jim Robinson of RRE Ventures, Peter Chung of Summit Partners, Suyang Zhang and Quan Zhou of IDG Accel, and Hans Tung of Qiming Ventures. See Hans Tung on the next big idea.  Sand Hill Road titan Dick Kramlich of NEA counts on this tally too for his beyond-the-call-of-duty stay in Shanghai, overseeing the firm's Chinese investing strategy and inking some deals too.

Adding more heft to the China impact trend, 10 active venture investors in China were returnees to the 2012 list, among them such notables as David Chao of DCM, Jenny Lee of GGV Capital, Richard Liu of Morningside Ventures, and Neil Shen of Sequoia Capital China. Those firms that scored with two general partners on this Silicon Dragon venture ranking for China are IDG Accel, GGV Capital and NEA.

Portfolio companies that contributed to these China VC's winning streak include NYSE-listed e-bookseller Dangdang, social networking and gaming player Renren and anti-virus software provider Qihoo 360, plus NASDAQ-listed Internet data service center Vianet21. Up and comers gaming and social communication startup YY and smartphone maker Xiaomi -- both financed by angel investor Lei Jun -- also figured on the list as did e-retailer VANCL. Two notable exits through trade sales -- travel search player Qunar and video sharing site Tudou -- factored in as well in the VC rankings. E-commerce powerhouse Alibaba had a noticeable impact as well on the tally.

Four venture investors in China dropped off the 2013 list from 2012: China-based dealmakers Ruby Lu of DCM and Thomas Ng of GGV Capital as well as U.S.-based VCs Ping Li of Accel Partners and Tim Chang of Mayfield Fund.

As valuations of many venture backed Chinese companies have shrunk and dealmaking has slowed in 2011 and 2012, expect to see China dealmakers face an increasing challenge in making the cut for 2014.

See Silicon Dragon tally of 17 top venture dealmakers in China and their rank on the overall list:

CHINA

Peter Fenton, Benchmark #6

Scott Sandell, NEA  # 8

Neil Shen, Sequoia Capital China, #15

Lee Fixel, Tiger Global Management, #30

Yuri Milner, Digital Sky Technologies, #35

Jenny Lee, GGV Capital, #36

James Robinson, RRE Ventures, #45

Suyang Zhang, IDG Accel #48

David Yuan, Technology Crossover Ventures, #53

Richard Liu, Morningside Ventures, #60

Peter Chung, Summit Partners, #67

Andrew Yang, SAIF, #69

Dick Kramlich, NEA, #73

Glenn Solomon, GGV Capital, #76

David Chao, DCM, #93

Quan Zhou, IDG Accel #99

Hans Tung, Qiming Venture, #100

See Silicon Tiger tally, INDIA

Sameer Gandhi, Accel Partners #44

Bijan Sabet, Spark Capital, #51

Navin Chaddha, Mayfield Fund, #52

For background, see the Silicon Asia analysis of the Forbes Midas list for 2012.