Current News on Startups and Venture Investments for Thursday, 22 January 2026. Major AI Rounds, IPOs, New Funds, and Key Trends in the Global Venture Market.
The start of 2026 has brought renewed activity to the global startup and venture capital market. Investors around the world are once again demonstrating a willingness to commit significant capital to promising companies, building on the successes of late 2025. Key highlights include record financing rounds, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, the return of "megafunds," a wave of much-anticipated IPOs, and an increase in investments in strategic sectors such as climate technology, fintech, and defence. Despite ongoing economic risks, the venture market enters 2026 with cautious optimism, as evidenced by key events in recent days.
- The Return of Megafunds and Big Money. Major venture funds are attracting record amounts, reinvigorating the market with capital and rekindling investors' appetite for risk.
- Record AI Rounds and New Unicorns. Unprecedented investments in artificial intelligence are driving up valuations for startups, particularly leaders in the AI space, bringing several into the "unicorn" club.
- Revival of the IPO Market. Successful public market entries by technology companies confirm that the "window of opportunity" for IPOs has reopened after a long hiatus and is expanding.
- Diversification of Investments. Venture capital is being directed not only into AI but also into fintech, climate projects, biotech, and other sectors, reflecting a wide array of growth opportunities.
- The Crypto Startup Market Springs Back to Life. Following an extended "crypto winter," the resurgence of growth in the crypto market has prompted investors to refocus their attention on blockchain projects.
- Consolidation Through M&A. A wave of mergers and acquisitions is gaining momentum, delivering quick exits for investors and reshaping the industry landscape.
IPO Market Gaining Strength: A Wave of Public Offerings
After nearly two years of stagnation, the initial public offering (IPO) market is witnessing a revival. Several high-profile IPOs towards the end of 2025 breathed new life into public capital. For instance, fintech giant Stripe successfully executed one of the decade's largest IPOs, achieving a valuation of around $100 billion, while enterprise software developer Databricks made a confident debut on the market, confirming investors' strong interest in technology companies. The success of these IPOs has laid the groundwork for a new wave of offerings in 2026. Several large unicorns are currently eyeing the public market, waiting for the opportune moment. Rumours suggest that potential debutants include leaders in the fields of artificial intelligence, fintech, and biotechnology. Industry insiders are discussing the possibility of IPOs from companies like OpenAI or major biotech startups if market conditions remain favourable. Venture funds, for their part, are preparing their portfolio companies for exits: with the "window of opportunity" remaining open, 2026 could be pivotal for these long-awaited public offerings.
Consolidation and M&A: The Industry is Consolidating
Amid the overall upswing in the industry, consolidation within the technology sector is intensifying. In 2025, the volume of significant M&A deals involving startups surged to a decade-long high, a trend that is continuing into early 2026. Major tech corporations with substantial cash reserves are actively acquiring promising young companies to accelerate innovation and expand their capabilities. Mergers and acquisitions are taking place across various sectors, including fintech, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. For venture investors, the M&A wave presents long-awaited exits and capital returns, often faster and more reliably than waiting for IPOs.
Just in the first weeks of January, several landmark deals have been announced. For example, reports indicate that Google has reached an agreement to acquire AI chip developer PolyCore for approximately $2 billion, aimed at bolstering its cloud business. Analysts predict that M&A activity will remain high in 2026, as major players continue to acquire innovative startups at attractive valuations to cement their dominance. This consolidation not only transforms the industry's landscape but also offers venture investors new opportunities for successful exits from their investments.
The Return of Megafunds: Billions Back on the Market
The world's largest venture funds are starting 2026 with record fundraising, signalling the return of "big money" to the venture market. For instance, the American firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) announced the raising of over $15 billion in new capital, distributed across several specialised funds. This unprecedented volume of funds for a16z is one of the largest raises in the industry’s history. Simultaneously, Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has reignited its activity, preparing a third Vision Fund of approximately $40 billion, which will focus on advanced technologies, primarily projects in artificial intelligence, robotics, and deep IT infrastructure.
The return of megafunds is particularly notable against the backdrop of a downturn in venture fundraising during the previous couple of years. Between 2022 and 2024, many funds struggled to secure capital; however, limited partners (LP) are once again entrusting significant amounts to major players. A substantial portion of the raised billions is expected to be directed towards the most promising sectors, from AI startups to strategic industries such as defence and climate technologies. The new megafunds are poised to intensify competition for the best deals, providing startups with ample financing for substantial growth.
The AI Investment Boom Continues
The artificial intelligence sector remains the main magnet for venture capital at the start of 2026. The investment frenzy surrounding AI, which began in 2025, shows no signs of abating and is setting new records. One of the most notable recent developments was an unprecedented funding round in AI: according to industry sources, a generative AI startup raised around $20 billion in a recent round, vividly demonstrating investors' appetite. Beyond this mega round, significant investments continue to flow into other AI companies globally. For instance, the Indian project Indra AI, which develops enterprise AI solutions, secured around $500 million at a valuation of $5 billion—one of the largest deals in Asia, underscoring the global nature of the AI boom.
These examples confirm that venture investors' interest in artificial intelligence is not isolated but rather widespread. There is heightened capital influx across nearly all segments of AI, from generative models and voice assistants to specialised semiconductors and cloud AI platforms. Competition for the most promising AI startups remains intense, even in the face of occasional concerns over sector overheating. Investors are betting that AI technologies will continue to transform industries, ensuring that funding for sector leaders in 2026 will remain at peak levels.
Defence and Strategic Technologies in Investors' Focal Point
Startups related to national security, defence, and space are rapidly coming into focus for venture investors. In the United States, there is a sustained effort to maintain technological superiority, with major funds (e.g., the American Dynamism fund from a16z) allocating substantial resources to dual-use projects—defence technologies, aerospace developments, and cybersecurity. Similar trends are unfolding beyond the Americas. In Europe, for example, investor consortia are forming new funds aimed at defence startups, while government programmes stimulate the development of security-enhancing technologies.
Interestingly, new unicorns have emerged in the field of defence and related areas right in the first weeks of the year. For instance, a French startup working on AI for military applications reportedly achieved a valuation exceeding $1 billion after a series B round—a rare occurrence in the European market. In the US, several defence startups have also achieved billion-dollar valuations thanks to government contracts and support from corporate investors. In addition to venture funds, defence giants are now directly investing in relevant startups, recognising their potential as innovation sources for their own needs. Thus, defence and strategic technologies are becoming one of the key priorities of the venture market in 2026, especially against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical competition.
Fintech and Crypto Startups: A Return of Investor Interest
After a slump in recent years, interest in financial technologies and the crypto industry is once again revitalising. High-interest rates and the turbulence of 2022–2023 negatively impacted fintech startups: many saw valuation declines, downsized personnel, and shifted focus towards efficiency. However, by 2026, the sector has adapted to the new conditions. The most resilient players are concentrating on profitability and expanding their client base, restoring venture investors' confidence. Significant deals are once again being made in traditional segments—digital payments, online banking, and InsurTech—particularly for companies that have validated their business models. Demand for fintech remains immense in emerging markets, and local startups are capturing substantial capital to scale their financial services.
Simultaneously, the market for blockchain projects and crypto startups is beginning to thaw. Following a lengthy "crypto winter," the recovery in digital asset prices and Bitcoin's recent rally to record levels (Bitcoin surpassing historical highs, attracting institutional investors' attention) have stimulated the return of venture capital to this realm. Funds are again prepared to finance blockchain infrastructure, decentralised finance (DeFi) projects, Web3 platforms, and other application solutions based on crypto technologies. While caution remains—investors demand greater transparency and regulatory compliance from crypto startups—the gradual restoration of trust is opening new fundraising opportunities for them.
Climate Startups: "Green" Technologies on the Rise
Interest in climate and environmental technologies is steadily increasing, turning "green" startups into one of the most dynamic segments of venture capital. The global push for sustainable development and decarbonisation of the economy is driving investors towards seeking innovative solutions in clean energy and eco-technologies. By the end of 2025, signs of investment recovery in climate tech were already appearing, and in the first weeks of 2026, this trend has intensified. Large funding rounds are taking place in segments of renewable energy, carbon reduction technologies, energy storage, and sustainable infrastructure. For example, a startup developing compact nuclear reactors reportedly raised hundreds of millions of dollars to accelerate research into nuclear fusion. Significant capital is also being invested in carbon capture projects, "green" transport, and agritech.
The growth of climate investments is supported by government policy. In major economies around the world, new incentives for "green" projects—ranging from tax breaks to targeted clean technology development funds—have come into effect, attracting additional private investors into the sector. While overall venture capital investment in climate tech in 2025 saw a slight decrease compared to the peak in 2021, capital has been redistributed in favour of the most promising startups. Now, in 2026, "green" technologies are once again taking centre stage: venture funds are recognising them not only as a socially significant mission but also as a tremendous growth potential as the world transitions towards a low-carbon economy.
Biotechnology and Medicine Attracting Capital Again
After a challenging period, investor interest in biotechnology and medical startups is being revived. Between 2022 and 2024, many biotech companies experienced valuation declines, prolonged clinical cycles, and decreased interest from funds. However, a turning point is emerging: new scientific breakthroughs and lessons from the pandemic have highlighted the value of innovation in healthcare. In the early weeks of 2026, several biomedical projects announced significant funding rounds, signalling a sector revival. For instance, one leading oncology startup from Massachusetts raised over $300 million in a late-stage round to advance its groundbreaking drug into final trials. This substantial late round demonstrated investors' willingness to finance costly developments with high potential.
The resurgence of interest is also being bolstered by synergies with artificial intelligence technologies. Startups at the intersection of AI and biology—from drug discovery through machine learning to genomic data analysis—are attracting significant capital. Corporations are also actively participating: major pharmaceutical companies are launching their own venture funds and collaboration programmes, eager to invest in promising teams. For example, in the US, the Bio & Health fund amounting to $700 million, established within a new a16z package, focuses on American biotech projects. In Europe, the pharmaceutical group Servier has set up a corporate fund of €200 million to support oncology and neurology startups. These capital infusions reflect long-term investor confidence that innovation in medicine will pay off—even if it takes longer compared to software or internet business sectors.
A Look Ahead: Cautious Optimism in the Market
The venture market is entering the second half of January 2026 with a prevailing sentiment of cautious optimism. Successful deals and rounds at the start of the year indicate that investors have adapted to the new realities—the era of "growth at any cost" has shifted to one of meaningful scaling. The focus is now on the sustainability of startups' business models and their achievement of profitability. Many funds have tightened their project selection, more rigorously assessing risks and potential before making investments. Such discipline is a response to lessons learned in recent years when excess funding in certain areas shifted to market correction.
Nevertheless, key trends inspire optimism. The "window" for IPOs, effectively closed from 2022 to 2024, has now opened and may remain accessible for mature companies waiting for their moment on the public markets. A vibrant M&A market promises to continue providing startups with exit opportunities and investors with returns on investments. Large new funds ensure that there is "dry powder" (available capital) to finance the next generation of innovative companies. While risks—from economic uncertainty to the potential overheating of certain niches—persist, the venture community looks towards 2026 with hope.
The initial weeks of the year have demonstrated that the global startup ecosystem is on the rise. If positive trends continue, 2026 may become a year of further growth in venture investments and the emergence of new technology leaders. Investors, having learnt from past experiences, are approaching this growth with a more measured outlook, balancing enthusiasm with prudence.
