Massive AI Deals Drive $189B Startup Funding Record In February While Public Software Stocks Reel

Global venture investment reached an unprecedented $189 billion in February, marking the largest startup funding month on record, though 83% of this capital was concentrated in just three companies: OpenAI ($110B), Anthropic ($30B), and Waymo ($16B). This record private funding occurred while public software stocks faced volatility due to concerns over AI compute and tooling. AI-related startups accounted for $171 billion, or 90% of the total funding, with U.S.-based startups capturing 92% of the global total. Despite the late-stage concentration, early-stage funding saw a year-over-year increase, though seed funding declined slightly. The strong private market performance contrasts sharply with stalled IPO momentum, as some firms withdrew listing plans.

(Source：Crunchbase News)