Key Startup and Venture Investment News for Sunday, January 25, 2026: Record AI Rounds, New Venture Funds, IPOs, and Global Investment Trends.
As we enter 2026, the global venture capital market continues its steady recovery from the downturn of previous years. In 2025, venture investment volumes saw a sharp increase, marking the return of private capital to the startup ecosystem. Major funds and corporations have resumed large-scale investments, launched new venture programs, and governments around the world are enhancing support for innovative businesses. Last year became the most successful since 2021 in terms of total venture investment, with significant capital inflow largely driven by a series of massive funding rounds in the artificial intelligence sector.
Venture activity spans all regions. The United States maintains its lead, especially in the AI segment, the Middle East has dramatically increased investments in tech startups, and in Asia, the downturn in China is being offset by a booming rise in investments in India and Southeast Asia. Even Africa and Latin America are witnessing capital inflows and the development of startup ecosystems. Overall, a new global venture boom is taking shape, although investors remain selective and cautious in their deals.
Below are key events and trends that are defining the venture market agenda for January 25, 2026:
- Return of Megafunds and Large Investors. Leading players are forming record venture funds and ramping up investments, refilling the market with capital once again.
- Record AI Megarounds and New Unicorns. Unprecedented levels of investment are raising valuations of startups to unprecedented heights, especially in the artificial intelligence sector.
- Revival of the IPO Market. Successful public offerings by tech companies and new filings confirm that the long-awaited “window” for exits remains open.
- Diversification of Sector Focus. Venture capital is flowing not only into AI but also into fintech, climate projects, biotech, defense technologies, and other promising sectors.
- Wave of Consolidation and M&A Deals. Major mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments are reshaping the industry landscape.
- Local Focus: Russia and the CIS. Despite restrictions, new funds and initiatives are emerging in the region to develop local startup ecosystems, increasing investors' interest in domestic projects.
The Return of Megafunds: Big Money Back in the Market
The largest investment players are triumphantly returning to the venture arena—a sign of renewed risk appetite. Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has launched Vision Fund III, targeting advanced technologies with approximately $40 billion, primarily focusing on artificial intelligence and robotics. American fund Andreessen Horowitz has raised a record $15 billion in new funds directed at priority tech sectors. Sovereign funds from Middle Eastern countries are also ramping up; they are pouring billions into technology projects and launching state-sponsored megaprojects to develop the startup sector, creating their own tech hubs in the region. Additionally, new venture funds are emerging globally, while funds in the U.S. have amassed unprecedented reserves of “dry powder”—hundreds of billions of dollars in uninvested capital ready for deployment.
The influx of “big money” is intensifying competition for the best deals and instilling market confidence in the continued flow of capital.
Record Rounds and New Unicorns: Investment Boom in AI
The artificial intelligence sector remains the primary driver of the venture surge in 2025 and early 2026, setting new records for funding volumes. Investors are keen to capitalize on AI leaders, funneling colossal resources into the most promising projects. For instance, Elon Musk's startup xAI raised around $30 billion in private investments (including a megaround of approximately $20 billion in early 2026), while OpenAI secured about $40 billion at a valuation of roughly $300 billion. These rounds have been heavily oversubscribed, underscoring the frenzy surrounding leading AI companies.
Moreover, venture capital is being directed not only to AI-based applications but also to the infrastructure solutions that support them. This investment boom is spawning a wave of new unicorns, although experts warn of the potential overheating of this segment.
IPO Market Revives: The “Window of Opportunity” for Listings Remains Open
The global primary public offering (IPO) market has confidently revived after a prolonged lull and continues to gain momentum. In Asia, Hong Kong is supporting a new wave of IPOs: in recent weeks, large tech companies have gone public, collectively raising multi-billion sums. This indicates that investors in the region are once again ready to actively participate in offerings. The situation is also improving in the U.S. and Europe: American fintech unicorn Chime has successfully debuted on the stock exchange, and at the end of 2025, the long-anticipated IPO of payment service Stripe took place. In 2026, even larger market exits are on the horizon: leading AI startups and even Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX are preparing for an IPO, which could become one of the largest in history. The “window” for IPOs remains open longer than many had predicted, and the market as a whole is capable of absorbing a wave of new issuances.
The revival of IPO activity encompasses a wide range of companies and is crucial for the venture ecosystem. Successful public exits allow funds to realize profitable exits and reinvest released capital into new projects. Despite investor caution, the prolonged open “window” encourages more startups to consider going public as a realistic objective.
Diversification of Investments: Fintech, Climate, and Biotech on the Rise
Following the downturn of recent years, a resurgence is being observed across several sectors. Major rounds are returning to fintech (not only in the U.S. but also in Europe and emerging markets), while the global trend towards sustainability is driving record investments in climate technologies, green energy, and agri-tech. Capital inflow into biotechnology is also reviving, and amid geopolitical challenges, interest in defense technologies (ranging from drones and cybersecurity to dual-use robotics) is increasing, with strong support from the state and significant investors. This diversification of sector focus is making the startup ecosystem more resilient, reducing the venture market's dependence on a single dominant trend.
Consolidation and M&A Deals: Increasing Player Concentration
High valuations of companies and fierce competition for markets are pushing the startup ecosystem towards consolidation. Major mergers and acquisitions are once again taking center stage, altering the balance of power within the industry. For instance, Google is advancing a historic deal to acquire Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32 billion—one of the largest startup acquisitions on the market. Such megadeals demonstrate that even industry leaders are willing to spend tens of billions to stay ahead in the technology race.
Overall, the current activity in acquisitions and major venture deals reflects the maturation of the industry. Mature startups are either merging with each other or becoming targets for acquisition by corporations, while funds are gaining opportunities for long-awaited profitable exits. Consolidation enhances the efficiency of the ecosystem, allowing companies to pool resources for accelerated growth and global expansion.
Russia and the CIS: Local Market Amid Global Trends
Despite external constraints, the venture market in Russia and the CIS continues to develop. New funds and corporate accelerators are emerging with the involvement of banks and large companies. Development institutions (such as the Skolkovo Foundation) are offering grants, tax benefits, and co-investment programs, partially offsetting the outflow of Western capital. Local investors and funds are increasingly focusing on the domestic market and partners from friendly countries in the Middle East and Asia, filling the gap left by departing players.
A noteworthy example is the Krasnodar-based foodtech startup Qummy, which raised approximately 440 million rubles in investment at a valuation of about 2.4 billion rubles, aiming for an IPO in the coming years. Simultaneously, several major banks and investment companies are launching their own venture funds (with a volume of around 10–12 billion rubles) to support tech projects. In 2025, authorities officially permitted the return of foreign capital from "friendly" countries into transactions with Russian startups, potentially opening doors for new investments. While the absolute volumes of venture investments in the region remain modest, they are gradually increasing. Local investors are betting on projects in AI, import substitution, cybersecurity, and B2B services. The regional startup ecosystem is striving to capitalize on the global upswing to lay the foundation for future growth, even if it requires more time and internal support.
Conclusions: Moderate Optimism and a Focus on Quality Growth
As we approach the beginning of 2026, sentiments in the venture industry remain cautiously optimistic. Successful IPOs and large funding rounds indicate that the downturn has been surpassed and the market is again on the rise. However, investors remain cautious and prefer startups with sustainable business models and clear pathways to profitability. The strong influx of capital instills confidence in future growth, but funds are paying particular attention to diversification and risk management. The main priority is the quality of this growth: market participants are focusing on the long-term sustainability of startups and healthy returns on investments, ensuring that this new upswing does not turn into overheating. Thus, the venture market is entering a new phase of development with moderate optimism, prioritizing a balanced approach and sustainable innovation growth.
