Current Startup and Venture Investment News for Tuesday, December 30, 2025: Major Funding Rounds, AI Investments, Venture Fund Activity, and Key Global Market Trends.
Global Trends in the Venture Market
By the end of 2025, the venture market is demonstrating signs of recovery following a prolonged downturn. Major funds and corporations have announced extensive investment programs, while governments are launching new incentives for technology startups. Investors worldwide are once again actively financing high-tech businesses: the United States remains a leader due to the AI boom, sovereign funds in the Middle East are enabling record inflows, and defense technologies and biomedicine are gaining traction in Europe. India and Southeast Asian countries are attracting record amounts of capital despite regulatory risks in China. In response, Chinese authorities launched a national fund worth 100 billion yuan ($14.3 billion) alongside three regional funds of 50 billion yuan each to support semiconductor, quantum technology, biomedicine, and other priority sectors.
Record Funding for AI Startups
The artificial intelligence sector continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the venture market. In 2025, AI startups raised over $150 billion, breaking historical funding records. Among the largest deals, SoftBank Group led a $41 billion round in OpenAI, while the startup Anthropic secured $13 billion. This unprecedented influx of capital has accelerated the development of AI technologies, but venture investors advise founders to build "solid financial cushions" to mitigate potential market correction risks.
Major Venture Rounds and Deals
In the closing year, the venture market recorded several significant deals:
- Swedish startup Lovable – $330 million (Series B, valuation $6.6 billion). The company is developing a software generation platform based on textual descriptions.
- American fintech Erebor Bank – $350 million (Series D, valuation around $4.35 billion). The bank provides financial services to crypto and AI companies.
- ZeroAvia (USA/UK) – $150 million (Series D) for developing hydrogen engines for zero-emission aviation.
- SanegeneBio (USA) – $110 million (Series B) for developing RNAi therapies and new biopharmaceuticals.
- Israeli Cyera – $400 million (Series C, valuation $9 billion). The startup is creating an AI cybersecurity platform to protect corporate data.
- Latin American fintech Plata (Mexico) – $500 million (Series B, valuation $3.1 billion). The company issues cashback bank cards and provides credit to 2.5 million customers in Mexico.
- Canadian startup Clio – $500 million (Series I, valuation $5 billion). The corporate travel and expense service is expanding global sales following the recent IPO of competitor Navan.
Cybersecurity and Major Deals
- Google has announced the acquisition of Israeli company Wiz for $32 billion—the largest acquisition in the cybersecurity sector.
- Palo Alto Networks has agreed to acquire CyberArk for $26 billion, marking one of the largest M&A deals in the industry.
- Service provider ServiceNow has agreed to buy platform developer Armis for $7.75 billion, more than double its recent valuation.
Government and Major Fund Initiatives
- China has launched a national venture fund of 100 billion yuan ($14.3 billion) and three regional funds of 50 billion yuan each to support technology startups in semiconductor, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and biomedicine sectors.
- Dutch fund Keen VC raised €125 million for investments in defense and aerospace startups.
- Sovereign funds from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore have increased their activities in the fintech and green technology markets, expanding their investment portfolios.
Fintech and Cryptocurrency
Fintech startups have attracted substantial investments: Mexican Plata raised $500 million (Series B, valuation $3.1 billion) and American Erebor Bank raised $350 million, offering banking services for cryptocurrency and AI companies. Niche solutions are also receiving support: crypto bank FINNY (USA) raised $17 million to develop an AI platform for financial advisors. Following the correction in 2025, interest in crypto startups has revived: as the market stabilizes, blockchain projects are once again attracting venture investments in the DeFi and stablecoin sectors.
Market Outlook and Conclusions
The influx of capital has provided startups with resources for growth, but experts warn of potential corrections. Many investors advise founders to maintain high liquidity and "solid balances" in case of downturns. For venture funds, it is crucial to remain focused on profitability and sustainability of business models amid record valuations of startups. The overall outlook for 2026 remains moderately optimistic: continued investments in key sectors (AI, biotechnology, cybersecurity) are anticipated, given financial discipline. Thus, the venture market enters a new phase—of a global boom phenomenon while simultaneously hedging against risks.
