Current Startup and Venture Capital News as of January 24, 2026: Mega-Rounds in AI, IPO Wave, VC Activity, and Key Global Trends for Investors.
As we begin 2026, the global venture market is showing consistent growth following a period of decline. Investors around the world are actively funding technology startups—record deals are being made, and IPO plans are coming to the forefront. Major players are returning with substantial investments, while governments are increasing support for innovation. As a result, private capital is returning actively to the startup ecosystem.
Venture activity is on the rise in all regions. The US maintains a strong lead (particularly in the field of artificial intelligence), while the volume of investments in startups has surged in the Middle East, and Europe is experiencing a shift in power dynamics: Germany has overtaken the UK in the volume of venture deals. India, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf countries are attracting record amounts of capital against the backdrop of a slowdown in China. A new global venture boom is forming, although investors remain selective and cautious in their approach to deals.
Below are the key events and trends shaping the venture market landscape as of January 24, 2026:
- Continuing IPO market activation. Successful public offerings by technology "unicorns" and new applications confirm that the long-awaited "window" for exits remains open.
- Record financing rounds in AI and robotics. Unprecedentedly large deals are pushing startup valuations to new heights, particularly in the AI and robotics segments.
- Diversification of industry focus. Venture capital is directed not only to AI but also to fintech, climate projects, biotechnology, defense technologies, and other sectors.
- Wave of consolidation and M&A deals. Major mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments are reshaping the industry landscape, creating pathways for exits and consolidation of companies.
- Global expansion of the venture capital market. The investment boom is encompassing new markets—from the Gulf countries and South Asia to Africa and Latin America—creating their own tech ecosystems.
- Local focus: Russia and the CIS. Despite constraints, new funds and initiatives to develop local startup ecosystems are emerging in the region, attracting investor attention.
Ongoing IPO Wave: New Listings on the Market
The market for initial public offerings (IPOs) is experiencing a resurgence after a prolonged period of calm, and this wave is continuing into 2026. In recent months, several large "unicorns" have successfully debuted on the stock market, generating optimism within the venture community. In the US, highlights include the IPOs of design platform Figma and fintech company Chime—both debuts were successful. These successful listings have prompted other "mature" startups to prepare for going public.
In 2026, a series of new high-profile listings are expected. Among the candidates for IPO are payment giant Stripe, social platform Reddit, AI company Anthropic, and even space leader SpaceX. Many of them are eyeing the opportunity window created by market growth to attract capital for further development. The activation of the IPO market is crucial for the venture ecosystem: successful exits enable funds to realize profitable outcomes and reinvest in new projects. As long as the "window" remains open, an increasing number of startups are seriously considering public offerings.
Mega-Rounds in AI and Robotics Set Records
The artificial intelligence sector continues to attract unprecedented volumes of venture financing, setting records in 2025 and maintaining momentum into early 2026. Major AI startups raised a total of approximately $150 billion last year, with the lion's share coming from several mega-rounds. OpenAI completed the largest private round in history—around $40 billion in investments. Its competitor, Anthropic, is also rapidly attracting capital: at the end of 2025, the company secured strategic funding from NVIDIA and Microsoft amounting to up to $15 billion at a valuation of ~$350 billion, and is reportedly negotiating for an additional $25 billion.
Other players are also securing massive sums. Swiss startup Skild AI, which is developing a "brain" for robotics, raised a record $1.4 billion in a funding round led by SoftBank. A genuine boom is also observed in AI infrastructure: from cloud services and semiconductors to data centers for training models—investors are willing to invest even in the "shovels and picks" for the AI market. The pool of new "unicorns" is rapidly expanding.
Diversification: Climate, Biotech, Fintech Return to Focus
Although artificial intelligence remains the main "star" of the venture market, investment capital is increasingly diversifying across sectors. After a period of decline, funding in fintech is coming back to life. Climate and environmental startups have also gained momentum: the total volume of venture investments in climate tech exceeded $40 billion for the year, with a portion going to several mega-deals related to AI applications in energy and resources (for example, startup Crusoe Energy raised $1.4 billion for the development of "green" data centers).
Interest from investors in biotechnology and medtech is returning, fueled by new scientific breakthroughs. Major rounds in pharmaceutical startups and companies developing new therapies show that venture investors are willing to finance healthcare once again after a brief pause. Additionally, defense technologies and space projects are attracting increasing amounts of funds, partly due to government contracts and geopolitical demand. Overall, the venture market is becoming broader and more balanced: capital is being directed not only to AI but also to other promising segments.
Consolidation and M&A: Major Deals Transform the Market
Amidst high startup valuations and fierce competition, the trend toward consolidation has intensified. Major tech corporations and expensive "unicorns" are increasingly acquiring promising teams or merging for synergy. One of the largest acquisitions last year was Meta's purchase of startup Scale AI (a data-tagging platform) for nearly $15 billion—this move underscored tech giants' desire to secure key assets in the AI sector. Many late-stage startups are choosing to sell to a strategic investor or fund rather than pursue an IPO, seeking liquidity as an alternative. The wave of M&A deals offers funds new pathways for exits while simultaneously consolidating market players, making them more mature and capable of competing on a global scale.
Global Expansion of Venture Capital: New Regions on the Rise
The venture boom is now reaching more countries and continents, extending beyond traditional hubs. The Middle East has transitioned from being an exporter of capital to creating its own startup ecosystems: large state programs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are fostering tech development and attracting talent. India and Southeast Asia are breaking records in venture investments, establishing cities like Singapore, Bangalore, and Jakarta as some of the largest tech hubs. New "unicorns" are also emerging in Africa and Latin America—while investment volumes there are still modest, the growth rates are impressive, and global funds are showing increasing interest in these regions. Europe is also undergoing shifts: Germany and France have ramped up venture activity, while the UK has lost some of its leadership. Venture capital has become truly global—innovative companies can find support in nearly any corner of the world.
Russia and CIS: Local Initiatives Amid Global Trends
Despite ongoing constraints and geopolitical circumstances, the venture market in Russia and neighboring countries is trying to develop based on internal resources. Industry estimates indicate that the volume of venture investments in Russia was around 7 billion rubles in 2025, slightly lower than the previous year due to limited access to external capital. Nonetheless, new funds and support programs for startups are emerging. Major banks and corporations are launching their own venture divisions and funds to finance promising projects across various sectors.
The government is also intensifying its focus on tech entrepreneurship. In 2025, the government established several new accelerators and grant programs centered on key technologies. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation announced plans to conduct 2–3 SPOs for state companies in 2026, amounting to up to 200 billion rubles. The region is seeking to leverage global trends for its own needs, forming local analogues of successful models. While the scale of Russian venture is not comparable to global leaders, local players hope to lay a foundation for future growth of the ecosystem.
A Look Ahead: Cautious Optimism Among Investors
As we enter 2026, the venture market is characterized by guarded optimism. Recent successes—from high-profile IPOs to record funding rounds—instill confidence in the continuation of growth. However, lessons from past years remind investors to remain cautious. The concentration of vast capital in a few AI startups highlights risks: if expectations are not met, significant corrections in valuations are possible. In response, funds are placing increasing emphasis on the quality of business models and the real performance of startups, avoiding a pursuit of growth at any cost. Despite this wariness, the overall situation is favorable: a large capital pool is available, technological breakthroughs are occurring, and interest in innovation is high. If the macroeconomic conditions remain stable, 2026 could bring further market vitality—investors are eager to seize new opportunities while maintaining a measured enthusiasm in the face of early signs of overheating.
