Current News in Startups and Venture Investments as of January 24, 2026: Mega-Rounds in AI, Wave of IPOs, Activity of Venture Funds, and Key Global Trends for Investors.
As we enter 2026, the global venture market is displaying steady growth following a period of downturn. Investors worldwide are actively financing technology startups, with record-breaking deals being made and IPO plans coming to the forefront. Major players are returning with substantial investments, while governments are increasing support for innovation. As a result, private capital is actively re-entering the startup ecosystem.
Venture activity is on the rise across all regions. The United States maintains a strong lead, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, while the Middle East has seen a dramatic increase in investment in startups. In Europe, a power shift is underway: Germany has overtaken the United Kingdom in the volume of venture deals. India, Southeast Asia, and Gulf countries are attracting record amounts of capital against the backdrop of diminished activity in China. A new global venture boom is taking shape, although investors remain selective and cautious in their deal-making approaches.
Below are key events and trends shaping the venture market landscape as of January 24, 2026:
- Continued IPO Market Activation. Successful IPOs by technology "unicorns" and new applications confirm that the long-awaited "window" for exits remains open.
- Record-Breaking Funding Rounds in AI and Robotics. Unprecedentedly large deals are pushing startup valuations to new heights, particularly in the artificial intelligence and robotics sectors.
- Diversification of Sector Focus. Venture capital is being directed not only towards AI but also into fintech, climate projects, biotechnology, defence technologies, and other sectors.
- Wave of Consolidation and M&A Transactions. Major mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments are reshaping the industry landscape, providing pathways for exits and the consolidation of companies.
- Global Expansion of Venture Capital Market. The investment boom is reaching new markets—from the Gulf countries and South Asia to Africa and Latin America—creating their own technology ecosystems.
- Local Focus: Russia and the CIS. Despite restrictions, new funds and initiatives are emerging in the region to develop local startup ecosystems, attracting the attention of investors.
Ongoing IPO Wave: New Listings on the Stock Exchange
The initial public offering (IPO) market is experiencing an upswing after a prolonged lull, and this wave continues into 2026. In recent months, several major "unicorns" have successfully debuted on the stock exchange, instilling optimism in the venture community. Notable IPOs in the United States included the designer platform Figma and fintech company Chime—both of which had successful debuts. These successful offerings have prompted other "mature" startups to prepare for going public.
A series of high-profile listings is expected in 2026. Among the candidates for IPOs are payment giant Stripe, social platform Reddit, AI company Anthropic, and even space leader SpaceX. Many of these firms are considering the opportunities presented by market growth to attract capital for further development. The activation of the IPO market is vital for the venture ecosystem: successful exits allow funds to secure profitable returns and reinvest in new projects. As long as the "window" remains open, an increasing number of startups are seriously contemplating public offerings.
Mega-Rounds in AI and Robotics Set Records
The artificial intelligence sector continues to attract unprecedented levels of venture financing, setting records in 2025 and maintaining momentum into early 2026. Major AI startups collectively raised around $150 billion last year, with a significant portion coming from several mega-rounds. OpenAI completed the largest private round in history, securing approximately $40 billion in investments. Its competitor, Anthropic, is also rapidly attracting capital: at the end of 2025, the company received strategic funding from NVIDIA and Microsoft amounting to $15 billion at an estimated valuation of approximately $350 billion, and is reportedly negotiating for an additional $25 billion.
Other players are also raising substantial amounts. Swiss startup Skild AI, which is developing a "brain" for robotics, secured 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 centres for model training—investors are keen to invest even in the "shovels and pickaxes" of the AI market. The pool of new "unicorns" is rapidly expanding.
Diversification: Climate, Biotech, and Fintech Come Back into Focus
While artificial intelligence remains the shining star of the venture market, investment capital is becoming increasingly diversified across sectors. Following a period of decline, funding in fintech is reviving. Climate and environmental startups have also gained momentum: the total volume of venture investments in climate tech exceeded $40 billion over the year, with some of this attributed to several mega-deals involving AI applications for energy and resources (for example, startup Crusoe Energy raised $1.4 billion to develop "green" data centres).
In biotechnology and medtech, investor interest is returning in the wake of new scientific breakthroughs. Large funding rounds in pharmaceutical startups and companies developing new therapies indicate that venture investors are ready to finance healthcare once again after a brief pause. Furthermore, defence technologies and space projects are attracting increasing amounts of funding, partly due to government contracts and geopolitical demand. Overall, the venture market is becoming broader and more balanced: capital is directed not only towards AI but also towards other promising segments.
Consolidation and M&A: Major Transactions Transform the Market
Amidst high startup valuations and intense competition, the trend towards consolidation has strengthened. Major technology corporations and high-value "unicorns" are increasingly acquiring promising teams or merging for synergies. One of the largest acquisitions of the past year was Meta's purchase of Scale AI, a data-tagging platform, for nearly $15 billion—this move underscored the tech giants' desire to secure key assets in AI. Many late-stage startups are opting for sales to strategic investors or funds rather than pursuing IPOs to ensure liquidity. The wave of M&A transactions provides funds with new exit paths while simultaneously consolidating market players, making them more mature and competitive on a global scale.
Global Expansion of Venture Capital: Emerging Regions on the Rise
The venture boom is now covering an increasing number of countries and continents, extending beyond traditional hubs. The Middle East has transformed from a capital exporter into a creator of its own startup ecosystems: substantial government programs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are stimulating technology development and attracting talent. India and Southeast Asia are breaking records in venture investments, solidifying cities such as Singapore, Bangalore, and Jakarta as major tech hubs. New "unicorns" are also emerging in Africa and Latin America—although investment volumes remain modest, growth rates are impressive, and global funds are showing greater interest in these regions. Europe is experiencing shifts: Germany and France have increased venture activity, while the United Kingdom has lost some of its leadership. Venture capital has truly become global—innovative companies can find support virtually anywhere in the world.
Russia and the CIS: Local Initiatives Amid Global Trends
Despite ongoing restrictions and geopolitical circumstances, the venture market in Russia and neighbouring countries is striving to evolve by relying on internal resources. Industry estimates suggest that the volume of venture investments in the Russian Federation amounted to around 7 billion rubles in 2025, slightly less than the previous year due to limited access to external capital. Nevertheless, new funds and startup support programs 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 technological entrepreneurship. In 2025, several new accelerators and grant programs focused on key technologies were launched. The Russian Ministry of Finance has announced plans to conduct 2-3 SPOs of state companies in 2026, totalling up to 200 billion rubles. The region is keen to leverage global trends for its own purposes, creating local analogues of successful models. While the scale of the Russian venture scene is incomparable to global leaders, local players hope to lay the groundwork for future ecosystem growth.
Looking Ahead: Cautious Optimism Among Investors
As we begin 2026, the venture market is characterised by cautious optimism. Recent successes—from high-profile IPOs to record-breaking funding rounds—instil confidence in continued growth. However, the experience of previous years advises investors to remain vigilant. The concentration of vast capital within a few AI startups serves as a reminder of the associated risks: if expectations are not met, sharp valuation corrections could occur. In response, funds are increasingly focusing on the quality of business models and the real metrics of startups, avoiding the pursuit of growth at any cost. Despite this wariness, the overall situation is favourable: substantial capital is available, technological breakthroughs are occurring, and interest in innovation remains high. If the macroeconomic climate remains stable, 2026 could yield further market revitalisation—investors are poised to seize new opportunities while remaining prepared to temper enthusiasm at the first signs of overheating.
