Global Startup and Venture Capital News for January 16, 2026: Record Rounds in Artificial Intelligence, Energy Technologies, and Biotech, Activity of Leading Venture Funds, and Key Investment Trends for Investors.
Globally, the startup and venture capital market kicks off the year with significant news. Major investments in artificial intelligence, clean energy, and innovative infrastructures take center stage in the news flow. Leading funds announce substantial capital injections, and government programs in Europe and the USA enhance support for tech companies. Among the key events of the day are record funding rounds for AI startups and the launch of new strategic funds.
Key Trends
Market trends highlight sustained investor interest in high-tech sectors. On Friday, January 16, the startup world was marked by the following key events:
- AI startups continue to attract record investments. Several promising companies in artificial intelligence announced major funding rounds at high valuations.
- Venture funds announce mega fundraising. Leading VC firms and specialized funds reveal the raising of billions of dollars for new investment strategies.
- Climate and energy technologies are on the rise. Investors are actively funding clean energy and climate startups, ranging from hydrogen solutions to next-generation reactors.
- Crypto and Web3 sector emerging from lethargy. Market consolidation and preparation for new regulatory standards are prompting investors to engage in significant deals.
- Government support remains a significant factor. Governments in Europe and the USA are expanding funding programs and subsidies for tech startups.
Large Investments in AI Startups
The artificial intelligence sector is demonstrating unprecedented levels of capital raised. Investors are focusing on companies offer practical solutions based on large models. Among the most notable deals are:
- Higgsfield (USA, AI video): the startup announced a Series A extension funding round of $80 million. Following this round, the company is valued at over $1.3 billion. Investors include Accel, GFT Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and others. Higgsfield specializes in AI-generated video, simplifying the content creation process for marketing and entertainment.
- Deepgram (USA, AI voice): the developer of voice AI agents for businesses raised $130 million at a valuation of $1.3 billion (Series C). The round was led by venture fund AVP, with participation from Tiger Global, Madrona, and the CIA's In-Q-Tel fund. Deepgram plans to use the new funds for international expansion, enhancing language support, and acquisitions (notably, the purchase of OfOne for restaurant technology).
- Proxima (USA, biotech/AI): during its seed round, the company raised $80 million led by the DCVC fund. Proxima is developing an AI platform for discovering new drugs, focusing on proximity-based therapies. The firm has previously been recognized as a high-potential startup.
These and other deals highlight the growing interest of investors in AI solutions in applied fields – from biotechnology to media and customer service. AI remains at the forefront of capital distribution among industries.
Leading Funds: New Major Fundraises
Despite market volatility in venture capital, the largest investment firms are showing optimism and raising record funds. The focus is on “super-sized” fund practices and thematic directions:
- Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) announced raising over $15 billion for new funds. This includes $6.75 billion for a growth fund, $1.7 billion for AI infrastructure, $1.12 billion for a national security fund (covering residential technologies and more), as well as funds for Bio&Health and other strategies. Thus, a16z aims to actively support startups in AI, cryptocurrency, and areas critical for US technological leadership.
- Superorganism (USA) – a venture fund focused on biodiversity preservation technologies, raised $25.9 million for its debut fund. The investment goal is to fund startups developing technological solutions for environmental protection. Investors include Cisco Foundation, AMB Holdings, and a16z partner Jeff Jordan.
- Germany – EIF German Equity: the Federal Ministry of Economics is allocating an additional €1.6 billion (approximately $1.7 billion) through the European Investment Fund. These funds will go to venture and growth funds investing in German and European tech companies. The program supports a broad range of industries – from AI and fintech to energy and deep tech.
- Denmark – Novo Nordisk fund is allocating up to 5.5 billion DKK (≈€736 million) for the development of the BioInnovation Institute. BII plans to increase support for startups from 20 to 40 companies annually, expanding scientific and geographic directions. This is the largest private investment commitment to European startup infrastructure in recent years.
Thus, venture and corporate investors are expanding their funds, strengthening their presence in key tech niches.
Climate, Energy, and Clean Tech
Clean energy and climate technologies continue to attract the attention of investors and large corporations. Key industry news includes:
- Type One Energy (USA, nuclear energy): the startup secured $87 million in the form of a convertible note, bringing its total venture funding to $160 million. Type One plans to raise up to $250 million in Series B with an approximate valuation of $900 million. The company is developing a patented nuclear reactor (stellarator), partnering with TVA to build its first power plant with a capacity of 350 MW.
- Hydrogen Solutions: several companies working on fuel cells and hydrogen raised significant funding rounds (for example, hydrogen firms received rounds in the tens of millions). Investors see the potential of hydrogen in reducing emissions for industry and transportation.
- Nuclear Energy and AI: major technology companies are strengthening partnerships with nuclear startups. For instance, Meta has agreed to invest in companies Oklo and TerraPower, which are developing small modular reactors (SMRs) and next-generation reactors (Natrium). Through these deals, Meta gains access to future power generation, crucial for its expanding data centers and AI projects.
Investments in energy underscore the industry's transition to environmentally friendly sources. Companies creating the technologies of the future for energy generation and storage are coming to the forefront among startups.
Crypto and Digital Assets
The cryptocurrency and blockchain sector is also reviving after a period of uncertainty. Investors and corporations are making significant deals:
- Coinme (USA, bitcoin ATMs): acquired by Polygon Labs in a deal worth over $250 million (including the purchase of the Sequence platform). The acquisition provides Polygon with access to regulatory infrastructure and a cash-to-crypto exchange network in the USA. The deal reflects the trend of consolidating crypto payment services within larger blockchain ecosystems.
- Project Eleven (USA, crypto security): raised $20 million in a Series A led by Castle Island Ventures (with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Variant, and others). The company is developing solutions to protect blockchains from the threats posed by quantum computers, preparing for a product launch in early 2026. This round comes against the backdrop of growing interest in post-quantum cryptography.
- Rain (USA, blockchain fintech): raised $250 million in Series C from ICONIQ Capital, Sapphire Ventures, and others. Rain issues corporate cards and Stablecoin tools for Web3 enterprises, streamlining crypto payment management.
These deals signal that after a challenging year for the crypto industry, investors are once again ready to invest in the infrastructure for digital assets and services for the mass market.
Global Markets and Regional Trends
The new decade begins with interesting changes across key regional startup markets:
- Asia: According to analysts, investment in Asian startups reached approximately $67.5 billion in 2025 (a 6% decrease from 2024), but the fourth quarter saw a surge due to large deals. For instance, Chinese EV startup Deepal raised $874 million (Series C), Neolix secured $600 million (Series D), and Moonshot AI raised $500 million (Series C). These massive rounds significantly boosted quarterly figures.
- DayOne Data Centers (Singapore): announced raising over $2 billion in Series C. The funds will be used to expand data centers in Europe (Finland) and the Asia-Pacific region (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong). This round was conducted at a double premium to the previous valuation.
- Europe: the support for the startup ecosystem remains strong. A major example is Germany with its EIF German Equity program. Overall, European investors are focusing on deep tech and climate tech. New European accelerators and clusters for AI and biotech were announced in early January. For instance, the BioInnovation Institute in Denmark is expanding its portfolio of supported companies with new funding.
Thus, geographically, the market demonstrates a diversity of growth drivers: Asia is leading with significant deals in mobile technologies and AI, Europe is propelled by government initiatives, while North America sees substantial private funds and tech giants.
Government Support and Infrastructure
Government programs and partnerships between corporations and the state continue to shape the landscape of startup support:
- USA: the federal government is expanding tax credits and grants for R&D, especially in AI and semiconductors (CHIPS Act). Additional investments in quantum technologies and biotechnology are planned. Major IT companies are participating in partnerships with the government to develop data center and energy project infrastructure.
- Europe: in addition to the aforementioned German and Danish programs, the European Union is promoting initiatives to support tech champions (European Tech Champions Initiative). EU investment funds and national agencies provide loans and guarantees for startups in critical sectors (AI, health, climate).
- Asia and Other Regions: the government's role varies by country. For example, Singapore and South Korea actively subsidize their startup incubators and the global expansion of companies. Several BRICS countries are launching investment programs for tech startups with government backing.
A comprehensive approach stimulates the growth of new projects and reduces risks for investors. Against a backdrop of fierce competition for talent, governments are promoting favorable conditions for entrepreneurs to retain innovations within their countries.
Prospects and Conclusions
Summarizing the events of the week, the following key conclusions can be made:
- Venture capital continues to flow into high-tech areas. Artificial intelligence and energy remain in the spotlight for investors, as evidenced by large funding rounds.
- Large funds, such as a16z, as well as new thematic VC funds, are setting the bar – the scale of their fundraising reflects LP (limited partner) demand for technology assets.
- Global competition for technological leadership fuels collaboration between the private and public sectors. Funding programs, tax incentives, and major corporate investment projects strengthen the startup ecosystem worldwide.
- The market is witnessing a consolidation in certain segments (crypto, data centers) and diversification of new trends (biodiversity, post-quantum cryptography). This indicates that venture investors are searching for both proven technologies and nascent ideas with tremendous potential.
Overall, the startup industry demonstrates vibrant investor interest in key sectors of the future economy. Experts predict that amid ongoing macroeconomic challenges, it is technological innovations that will continue to attract the bulk of capital.
