Global Startup and Venture Capital News as of November 19, 2025: Mega AI Rounds, New Funds, M&A Deals, IPO Growth, and Key Tech Market Trends
By mid-November 2025, the global venture capital market is demonstrating sustained activity. Investors worldwide are actively funding tech startups again—record-setting mega-rounds are being closed, and IPO plans are back in focus. Major tech players and venture funds are returning to the playing field with significant investments, while governments in various countries are amplifying their support for innovation. Consequently, private capital continues to flow into the startup ecosystem, reflecting an enhanced risk appetite amid market stabilization.
Venture activity is on the rise across all regions. The United States is firmly leading the way (especially in artificial intelligence), Europe is strengthening its position via new large funds and deals, and Asia is seeing increased investments in advanced technologies supported by governmental initiatives. The Middle East is also ramping up efforts, channeling oil revenues into tech projects and developing regional tech hubs. A global venture revival is taking shape, although investors remain selective and cautious.
Below are key events and trends shaping the venture market agenda as of November 19, 2025:
- Mega-investments in AI from tech giants.
- Large funding rounds in fintech and other sectors.
- A new surge in investments in biotechnology and healthcare.
- The return of large venture funds (megafunds) to the market.
- A wave of M&A deals and significant exits.
- The revival of the IPO market and new public offerings.
- Global trends: regional shifts and cautious investor optimism.
Mega-investments in AI from Tech Giants
The artificial intelligence sector continues to set records for capital raising. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced the launch of a new AI startup called Project Prometheus, with a staggering initial funding of $6.2 billion. Bezos himself has taken on the role of co-CEO of the company, which will focus on developing "physical AI" to accelerate engineering and manufacturing processes. This unprecedented round makes Project Prometheus one of the largest startups by initial investment in history, highlighting the relentless enthusiasm of investors in the AI space.
Other recent deals in the AI segment also illustrate high interest in this area. Leading AI startups are attracting hundreds of millions: for instance, the computer vision platform Metropolis raised $500 million in early November (valuation around $5 billion), while cybersecurity project Armis secured $435 million in a pre-IPO round (valuation of $6.1 billion). Industry analysts estimate that AI accounts for more than half of all venture capital invested in 2025 (approximately $193 billion since the beginning of the year). Thus, AI remains a key driver of venture investments, with both large corporations and funds actively committing to AI-focused projects.
Large Funding Rounds in Fintech and Other Sectors
Beyond AI, startups in other sectors, particularly financial technology, are also attracting significant funds. For instance, American fintech platform Ramp raised $300 million in November in a new funding round, valuing the company at $32 billion. This round places Ramp among the most valuable private fintech startups in the world and confirms that investors are willing to support successful business models even in a more selective market. Ramp's success, offering innovative solutions for corporate clients to manage expenses and payments, demonstrates that demand for effective fintech platforms remains strong.
Significant investments are also flowing to startups in telecommunications, energy, space technologies, and other fields. For example, the infrastructure project Celero Communications raised $140 million for the development of optical networks in data centers, while Japanese startup Sakana AI secured $135 million for creating advanced chips and AI models for the national defense sector. These deals reflect the broad range of venture capital—from financial services to deep tech projects—and confirm investor readiness to invest in diverse scalable sectors.
A New Surge in Investments in Biotechnology and Healthcare
Venture funding in biotech and healthcare is experiencing a new uptick. Biotech companies are attracting major rounds to develop advanced drugs and medical technologies. For instance, British startup Artios Pharma raised $115 million in a Series D round to expand its oncology research (ATR inhibitors for cancer treatment). Capital is being directed towards supporting groundbreaking scientific developments, with investors showing increased interest in promising drug platforms and medtech devices.
Major pharmaceutical corporations are also actively acquiring innovative biotech startups, underscoring the value of this sector in the ecosystem. A recent example is Johnson & Johnson's agreement to acquire American biotech startup Halda Therapeutics for $3.05 billion. Such multi-billion dollar deals signal to the market that leading players are willing to pay a premium for promising medical advancements. Overall, life sciences remain a key area for venture investments: alongside direct funding, startups in this field have a clear exit path through strategic deals with industry leaders.
The Return of Large Venture Funds to the Market
Venture capital is once again being bolstered by large funds, signaling a revival of trust from institutional investors. A number of leading investment firms have announced the creation of so-called megafunds—funds with volumes of $1 billion and above. For instance, the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank is establishing its third Vision Fund, valued at around $40 billion, focused on investments in AI, robotics, and other advanced technologies. Sovereign funds from Gulf countries have also become more active, channeling oil dollars into tech projects and developing government mega-programs to support startups in the Middle East.
New substantial funds are emerging in both Europe and North America. For example, European venture investor Sofinnova Partners recently closed a fund of €650 million to support biotech and medtech startups—even market volatility has not hindered the ability to attract such significant capital. In the U.S., Emergence Capital raised $1 billion earlier this year to invest in cloud services and AI startups. Apart from megafunds, there is a rise in specialized venture funds: for instance, a new fund focused solely on legaltech startups has recently been announced, with a target of $110 million. As a result, venture investors have amassed record amounts of uninvested capital ("dry powder")—hundreds of billions of dollars ready to be deployed in promising projects.
A Wave of M&A Deals and Significant Exits
The market has witnessed a wave of consolidation: mergers and acquisitions are becoming an important part of the startup ecosystem again. Corporations and late-stage investors are actively considering acquiring promising teams and technologies, creating new exit opportunities. A recent example is pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson acquiring biotech company Halda Therapeutics for $3.05 billion, securing one of the year's largest exits for Halda's investors. The technology sector is also seeing activity: Cisco Systems acquired startup EzDubs, the developer of a real-time AI translation service, to integrate its solutions into its communications product line. Additionally, quantum company IonQ announced plans to acquire startup Skyloom Global to accelerate the development of quantum networking technologies.
Not all major deals go smoothly—investor caution can manifest in some cases. For instance, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has canceled a previously planned acquisition of fintech startup BVNK (a stablecoin platform) for $2 billion, likely due to increasing regulatory risks. Nonetheless, overall M&A dynamics in 2025 point to growth in both the number and volume of deals compared to last year. Strategic investments and acquisitions by major players help startups secure the necessary resources for scaling or entering new markets, which ultimately revitalizes the venture ecosystem.
The Revival of the IPO Market
The market for initial public offerings (IPOs) is experiencing a noticeable revival after a period of quiet in recent years. In 2025, the number of technology companies going public has significantly increased. In the U.S. alone, over 300 IPOs have occurred since the start of the year, representing about a 60% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Successful debuts on the stock market by several "unicorns" have restored investor confidence that the window of opportunity for public offerings is once again open. Companies that had previously postponed IPO plans are resuming preparations for listing.
Among the most anticipated IPO candidates are several global high-tech startups, including American fintech giant Stripe, corporate AI software developer Databricks, neobank Chime, and others preparing to offer shares to investors in the coming quarters. International movement is also noted: for example, Swedish startup Einride (developer of autonomous electric trucks) has announced plans to go public on the New York Stock Exchange through a merger with a SPAC company, with a valuation of around $1.8 billion. This indicates that the desire for public markets is global—startups from Europe and Asia are also utilizing this opened IPO window to raise capital and accelerate growth.
Global Trends and Market Outlook
The culmination of recent events indicates the formation of a new growth cycle in the global venture sector. Abundant funding for advanced areas (primarily AI, fintech, biotech) combined with the emergence of large funds and improved conditions for exits create a conducive environment for startups. Competition for leadership positions in key technology areas is intensifying: large corporations are not only actively investing in promising young companies but also attracting the best teams and developments from the startup environment.
At the same time, a certain degree of caution is maintained. Macroeconomic factors (including high interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty) continue to encourage investors to take a measured approach when evaluating new projects. Capital is still being allocated selectively—in favor of teams with compelling technologies and resilient business models. Nevertheless, the overall sentiment remains optimistic. Many countries are expanding innovation support programs (e.g., national initiatives in AI and tech startups in Asia and Europe), complementing the efforts of private capital. Thus, the global venture market is entering 2026 with signs of tangible revival, where high growth expectations are balanced by greater discipline and a focus on long-term value.
