Global Startup and Venture Capital News for 19 November 2025: Mega Rounds in AI, New Funds, M&A Deals, IPO Growth, and Key Tech Market Trends
By mid-November 2025, the global venture capital market is exhibiting robust activity. Investors worldwide are once again actively financing technology startups, with mega rounds being closed at record amounts and IPO plans coming back into focus. Major tech figures and venture funds are returning to the fray with substantial investments, while governments in various countries are intensifying their support for innovation. Consequently, private capital continues to flow into the startup ecosystem, reflecting an increased appetite for risk amid market stabilisation.
Venture activity is on the rise across all regions. The USA confidently leads, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, Europe is strengthening its position through new large funds and deals, and Asia is experiencing increased investment in advanced technologies supported by government initiatives. The Middle East is also ramping up efforts, directing oil revenues into tech projects and developing regional tech hubs. A global venture boom is unfolding, even though investors are still acting selectively and cautiously.
Below are the key events and trends shaping the venture market landscape as of 19 November 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 capital funds (mega funds) to the market.
- A wave of M&A activity 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 break records in fundraising. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced the launch of a new AI startup called Project Prometheus, boasting a phenomenal initial funding of $6.2 billion. Bezos has personally 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 positions Project Prometheus among the largest startups by initial investment in history, underscoring the unwavering enthusiasm of investors in the AI space.
Other recent deals in the AI segment also highlight the high interest in this area. Major AI startups are attracting hundreds of millions in funding: for example, computer vision platform Metropolis secured $500 million earlier in November (valued at around $5 billion), while cybersecurity project Armis raised $435 million in a pre-IPO round (valued at $6.1 billion). According to industry analysts, AI accounts for more than half of all venture capital invested in 2025 (approximately $193 billion since the beginning of the year). As such, AI remains a key driver of venture investments, with both large corporations and funds continuing to actively invest in AI-focused projects.
Large funding rounds in fintech and other sectors
In addition to AI, substantial sums are being raised by startups in other industries, particularly in financial technology. For instance, American fintech platform Ramp raised $300 million in a new funding round in November at a company valuation of $32 billion. This round catapults Ramp into the ranks of the world's most valuable private fintech startups and reaffirms that investors are willing to support successful business models even in a more selective market environment. The success of Ramp, which offers innovative expense and payment management solutions to corporate clients, demonstrates that demand for effective fintech platforms remains strong.
Significant investments are also flowing into startups in telecommunications, energy, space technology, and other fields. For example, infrastructure project Celero Communications secured $140 million for the development of optical networks in data centres, while Japanese startup Sakana AI received $135 million for the creation of advanced chips and AI models for the national defense sector. These deals reflect the broad reach of venture capital—from financial services to deep tech projects—and confirm investors' readiness to invest in diverse sectors capable of scaling.
A new surge in investments in biotechnology and healthcare
Venture financing in biotech and healthcare is experiencing a new upswing. Biotech companies are attracting sizeable rounds for the development of advanced drugs and medical technologies. For instance, UK startup Artios Pharma raised $115 million in a Series D round to expand cancer research (ATR inhibitors for cancer treatment). Capital is being directed towards supporting breakthrough scientific developments, with investors showing heightened interest in promising drug platforms and medtech devices.
Major pharmaceutical corporations are also actively acquiring innovative biotech startups, underscoring the value of this sector to the ecosystem. A recent example is Johnson & Johnson's agreement to acquire American biotech startup Halda Therapeutics for $3.05 billion. Such a multi-billion deal signals to the market that leading players are willing to pay a premium for promising medical developments. Overall, life sciences remains one of the crucial areas for venture investments: alongside direct financing, startups in this sector have a clear path to exit through strategic deals with industry leaders.
The return of large venture funds to the market
Venture capital is once again being replenished with large funds, indicating a recovery of trust from institutional investors. Several leading investment firms have announced the creation of so-called mega funds—funds with a volume of one billion dollars or more. For instance, Japanese conglomerate SoftBank is forming its third Vision Fund, amounting to around $40 billion, focusing on investments in AI, robotics, and other advanced technologies. Sovereign funds from Gulf countries have also intensified efforts, directing oil dollars into tech projects and developing state mega-programmes to support startups in the Middle East.
New substantial funds are emerging in both Europe and North America. Recently, European venture investor Sofinnova Partners closed a €650 million fund to support biotech and medtech startups—even market volatility did not impede the attraction of such significant capital. Earlier this year in the USA, Emergence Capital raised $1 billion for investing in cloud services and AI startups. Besides mega funds, there is a rise in specialised venture funds, for example, a new fund focused entirely on legaltech startups was recently announced, with a budget of $110 million. As a result, venture investors are sitting on record levels of uninvested capital ("dry powder")—hundreds of billions of dollars ready to be deployed in promising projects.
A wave of M&A activity and significant exits
The market is witnessing a resurgence of consolidation: mergers and acquisitions are once again becoming an integral part of the startup ecosystem. Corporations and late-stage investors are actively considering the acquisition of 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, providing Halda's investors with one of the year's largest exits. Activity is also notable in the tech sector: Cisco Systems acquired startup EzDubs, a developer of real-time AI translation services, to integrate its solutions into its line of communication products. Additionally, quantum company IonQ announced an intention to acquire startup Skyloom Global to expedite the development of quantum network technologies.
Not all major deals go smoothly; in certain cases, investor caution is evident. For example, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has abandoned a previously planned acquisition of fintech startup BVNK (a stablecoin platform) for $2 billion, likely due to escalating regulatory risks. Nevertheless, overall M&A dynamics in 2025 indicate an increase in both the number and volume of deals compared to last year. Strategic investments and purchases by major players assist startups in obtaining the necessary resources for scaling or entering new markets, ultimately benefiting the venture ecosystem.
The revival of the IPO market
The primary public offering (IPO) market has seen notable rejuvenation following the lulls of previous years. In 2025, the number of tech companies going public has significantly increased. In the USA alone, over 300 IPOs have taken place since the beginning of the year, roughly 60% more than in the same period of 2024. Successful debuts of several "unicorns" on the stock market have restored investor confidence that the window of opportunity for public offerings has reopened. Companies that had previously postponed IPO plans are resuming preparations for listing.
Among the most anticipated IPO candidates are several global high-tech startups. These include American fintech giant Stripe, corporate AI software developer Databricks, neobank Chime, and others preparing to offer their shares to investors in the coming quarters. There is also movement internationally: for example, Swedish startup Einride (developer of autonomous electric trucks) has announced plans to go public on the New York Stock Exchange via a merger with a SPAC company valued at around $1.8 billion. This indicates a global aspiration toward the public market—startups from Europe and Asia are also leveraging the reopened IPO window to attract capital and accelerate growth.
Global trends and market outlook
The sum of recent events points to the formation of a new growth cycle in the global venture sector. Abundant funding for leading sectors (notably AI, fintech, and biotech) combined with the emergence of large funds and improved exit conditions creates a favourable environment for startups. Competition for leadership positions in key technological areas is intensifying: major corporations are not only investing heavily in promising young firms but also attracting the best teams and developments from the startup ecosystem.
At the same time, a degree of caution persists. Macroeconomic factors (including high interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty) continue to prompt investors to take a measured approach when evaluating new projects. Capital is still being allocated selectively—favouring teams with compelling technologies and robust business models. Nevertheless, the overall sentiment remains optimistic. Many countries are expanding innovation support programmes (for example, national initiatives focusing on AI and tech startups in Asia and Europe), complementing the efforts of private capital. Thus, the global venture market is entering 2026 showing signs of tangible recovery, where high growth expectations are balanced by greater discipline and a focus on long-term value.
