Record series a funding driven by AI startups

Global startups have raised at least 114 Series A rounds of $100 million or more this year, according to Crunchbase data, marking the highest annual total in years. These rounds collectively raised around $33 billion, with at least 12 exceeding $500 million. Over 70% of these large Series A rounds went to AI-focused startups, including a $1.2 billion round for River AI and a $900 million financing for Xpeng Robotics. AI startups accounted for an estimated $394 billion in venture and growth funding in the first half of 2026, representing 77% of all investment capital. U.S.-based startups received about half of the $100 million-plus Series A rounds, with 62 deals totaling around $15 billion. Megarounds at Series A are more globally dispersed than overall venture investment, with more than three-quarters of seed-through-growth-stage financing going to American companies in the first half of 2026. Van Espahbodi, general partner at Generational Partners, noted that leading investors have large capital reserves and that exit multiples reward ambitious ventures. Investors are also aligning on sectors, business models, and founding teams, favoring perceived early-stage leaders. Baselayer, an AI-powered startup, raised a $35 million M13-led Series A.