Investment in internet start-ups up 185%

Investment in Chinese internet start-ups reached a record $5.8 billion last year, an increase of 185 percent.

Domestic and foreign venture capital firms invested $3.3 billion, an increase of 260 percent, in 276 start-ups, according to Zero2IPO Group, a Beijing-based investment consultancy. Private equity firms invested $2.5 billion, an increase of 124 percent.

E-commerce websites, including 360buy.com and Vancl.com, attracted the most investment, as Chinese consumers continued to turn to online shopping.