With immediate exits looking unlikely, even investors that typically specialize in funding more mature companies are looking to early ventures, hoping the economy will sort itself out in the time it takes them to mature.

FORBES: Seedfund's Founders on Early Stage Success in India

With the proceeds from his earlier business ventures, he opened a lab in October of 1991 and hired a full-time microbiologist to work on different combinations of bacterial stews, because not all clogs are alike.

FORBES: Germ warfare

In addition, litigation takes a long time, potentially making the relationship between Intellectual Ventures and its investors contentious.

FORBES: Even Nathan Myhrvold Needs To Realize A Return

According to the hedge fund and investor Hermitage Capital Management, between 1997 and 2001 the company lost 10% of its gas reserves via share dilution to partners in various joint ventures, totaling an amount equal to Exxon's entire reserves at the time.

FORBES: Energy Tsar

In 1991 Sagan jumped to Time Warner, where he worked on some of the earliest Internet ventures.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Both Greycroft and RRE Ventures have made a couple of investments in Chinese startups but are not hurrying to add more deals given the time and energy required to oversee them from afar.

FORBES: All It Takes Is A Smile And A Hug To Jump-Start NY Tech