Major Rounds, AI Investments, and Key Trends in the Venture Market as of December 31, 2025
At the end of 2025, the venture market is demonstrating a recovery after a prolonged downturn. Major funds and corporations are announcing expansive investment programs in the technology sector, while governments worldwide are launching new incentives for startups. The United States remains the market leader, fueled by a record boom in artificial intelligence, the Middle East is channeling record funds through sovereign wealth funds, and Europe is focusing on defense technologies and biomedicine. India and Southeast Asian countries are attracting record amounts of venture capital despite regulatory uncertainty in China. Beijing has launched a national venture capital fund worth 100 billion yuan (~$14.3 billion) and three regional funds of 50 billion yuan each to support IT companies and technology startups.
Record Funding for AI Startups
The artificial intelligence sector continues to be the primary driver of venture investment. By the end of 2025, AI startups attracted over $150 billion, setting a historic record. Among the largest deals are a round involving SoftBank in OpenAI for $41 billion, funding for Anthropic totaling $13 billion, and over $14 billion secured by Scale AI (a subsidiary of Meta) for preparing training data. This unprecedented influx of capital has accelerated technology development; however, investors advise startup founders to build "robust financial balances" in case of potential market correction.
Major Venture Deals
In the concluding year, the venture market witnessed a number of significant deals worldwide:
- Lovable (Sweden) – $330 million (Series B, valuation $6.6 billion) for the development of an AI software generation platform.
- Helsing (Germany) – €600 million (Series D) for creating combat drones and defense systems utilizing AI.
- Plata (Mexico) – $500 million (Series B) for issuing cashback bank cards; the service serves 2.5 million customers.
- Manus (China/Meta) – acquired by Meta for $2–3 billion, a Chinese startup developing "universal AI agents." The deal will accelerate the integration of advanced AI technologies into Meta's products.
- Kalshi (USA) – $1 billion for a prediction market platform (predictive financial instruments).
- Veai (Russia) – 400 million rubles from the holding company "Vostok Investments" and business angels (approximately $5.7 million) for developing an AI platform for code automation.
Government and Major Fund Initiatives
Government and institutional players are intensifying support for the startup ecosystem. For instance, China announced the creation of a national venture capital fund with a budget of ¥100 billion and three regional funds of ¥50 billion each for investments in priority sectors (semiconductors, quantum technologies, AI, biomedicine, etc.). The Dutch fund Keen VC raised €125 million for investments in defense and aerospace startups. Sovereign funds from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore are ramping up activity in fintech and green technologies, expanding their venture investment portfolios in global sectors.
Fintech and Cryptocurrencies
Fintech startups continue to attract significant investments, and the cryptocurrency theme is back in the spotlight. For example, the Mexican fintech platform Plata secured $500 million (Series B) for growth, while the American crypto bank Erebor Bank raised $350 million (Series D) to service the digital market. Niche solutions are also finding support: the crypto startup FINNY (USA) attracted $17 million to develop an AI platform for financial advisors, and interest in DeFi and stablecoins is gradually rebounding after a downturn. On cryptocurrency exchanges, Bitcoin is trading near record levels of ~$90,000, while Ethereum has strengthened above $3,000. Volatility remains high due to regulatory signal expectations, but institutional demand is generally positive.
Forecasts and Conclusions
The record influx of venture funds has provided startups with the resources for scaling; however, experts caution about the possibility of market correction. Investors recommend entrepreneurs maintain high liquidity and "balance sheet strength" to withstand any external shocks. Meanwhile, venture funds are shifting focus to the sustainability of business models and profitability, even amid unprecedented company valuations. The overall forecast for 2026 remains moderately optimistic: continued investment in key technology sectors (AI, biotechnology, cybersecurity) is expected, along with increased attention to financial discipline and risk management.
