Venrock VC looks at the next big ideas

Venrock is one of the top VCs in the world. Some of its early-stage investments include Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Intel (Nasdaq: INTC), just to name a few.

For the most part, this is a new category that is likely to be highly attractive to advertisers. What are people saying about the brand? How can companies participate in the conversion?

While things are still early, it's a good bet we'll see some interesting tools emerge over the next couple years.

Video: Text and display ads are the biggest areas of online advertising. But, video could be the big play. After all, video allows for much more interactivity – and is a familiar format for traditional advertisers. Besides, platforms like YouTube and Hulu are making headway in providing top-quality long-form content.

Distance Learning: In a tough economy, it's even more important to find ways to differentiate yourself. And what better way than education?

Yet, the inconvenience and cost of going to a physical campus is definitely a barrier. But, with digital alternatives, the market opportunities can be enormous (no doubt, there is also a major role for video).

Digital cars: True, the auto industry is in the dumps. Then again, this may be an opportunity for getting a competitive edge.

In fact, the car may become a digital platform, much like your iPhone – where you can add applications and features.

How cool would that be?

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and the founder of BizEquity, a free online business valuation tool for small businesses. You can reach him on Twitter.