Despite all the talk of a narrowing of the investment funnel as a flood of angel and seed deals compete for a limited number of Series A fundings, the funnel seems to be widening.

Venture investing fell in 2012 for the first time in three years as global economic uncertainty combined with a soft fundraising environment to spark caution in the general partners.

Acquisitions of venture-backed companies fell for the second year in a row in 2012, with a weak fourth quarter contributing to the retreat, according to a study.

Venture-backed IPOs ended 2012 on a slow note with eight deals completed during the fourth quarter in the United States, leading the full-year to look quite similar to 2011.

VC marketing is nothing new. But lately, many firms have recruited people with agency or startup experience, which some observers say is an important way for firms to recruit young entrepreneurs and branch out into social media marketing.

Venture capitalists foresee back-to-basics investing in 2013 with money flowing to information technology startups in the enterprise and healthcare markets and away from cleantech and traditional medical science. These same investors are relatively sanguine about their fortunes, with half anticipating an improvement in venture returns

Sequoia-backed Ruckus Wireless braves the weather and launches a public offering as the year draws to a close.

Venture capitalists remained cautious during the summer months of a presidential election year, reining in third quarter investments in the face of a slow economy and soft IPO market. Investments by U.S. firms came to $6.49 billion in the quarter down 11.6% from a year ago.

Dollars raised by venture capital firms fell 17% in the third quarter, but more funds were able to find new money. In the three month period, 53 U.S.-based venture funds raised $4.98 billion, according to Thomson Reuters, publisher of this blog, and the National Venture Capital Association. In the second quarter, 43 funds raise $5.97 billion.

Corporate investors during the first half of the year participated in 16.3% of venture deals, according to a new study. This is an increase from 14.7% in 2011 and 12.9% in 2010.