Startup and Venture Investment News for Monday, January 19, 2026: Mega Funds, Record AI Rounds, Revived IPOs, Fintech, Biotech, and Climate Tech. Overview of Key Trends for Venture Investors and Funds.
By mid-January 2026, the global venture capital market exhibits a robust recovery following the downturn of previous years. Major investors are returning to the startup scene with significant capital, while governments worldwide are intensifying support for innovations. The explosive growth of funding in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector continues to set records, with venture rounds reaching unprecedented scales once again. Simultaneously, the IPO market is coming to life: several tech "unicorns" are successfully going public, opening a long-awaited "window of opportunity" for exits. The sectoral focus is also expanding—beyond AI, investments are flowing into fintech, climate projects, biotech, and even crypto startups. Meanwhile, a wave of consolidation is underway: significant M&A deals are reshaping the industry's landscape. Below, we list the key trends and events in the venture market as of January 19, 2026:
- Return of mega funds and "big money." Leading venture capital funds are attracting record amounts, refilling the market with capital and reigniting risk appetite.
- Record funding rounds in AI and new unicorns. Unprecedented investments are driving up startup valuations, particularly in the artificial intelligence segment.
- Revitalization of the IPO market. Successful public offerings by tech companies confirm that the "window" for IPOs remains open and is expanding.
- Diversification of investments: fintech, climate tech, biotech. Venture capital is actively exploring various industries beyond just AI, reflecting a broad spectrum of growth opportunities.
- The crypto startup market awakens. Following declines in previous years, the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector is once again attracting significant investment and planning high-profile launches.
- Consolidation and M&A deals. Large mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments are consolidating market players, creating new pathways for startup exits.
- Government policy and regulators. Authorities are stimulating innovation while strengthening oversight of tech giants, influencing the rules of the game in the venture ecosystem.
- Local focus: Russia and the CIS. Despite restrictions, new funds and initiatives are emerging in the region to support the growth of local startups.
Return of Mega Funds: Big Investors Back on the Scene
The major investment players are making a triumphant return to the venture market, signaling a new rise in risk appetite. At the beginning of 2026, several top funds announced record capital raises. Notably, American firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) raised approximately $15 billion for new funds—an unprecedented amount that constitutes almost a quarter of last year's U.S. venture fundraising. Simultaneously, Middle Eastern sovereign funds continue to funnel billions into tech projects, launching mega-projects to develop startup ecosystems (especially in AI and deep tech) and creating regional tech hubs. Overall, venture funds worldwide are sitting on vast reserves of "dry powder"—hundreds of billions of dollars in uninvested capital are waiting for their moment. This influx of "big money" is providing liquidity to the startup ecosystem, supporting new rounds and enhancing valuations of promising companies. The return of mega funds and institutional investors not only intensifies competition for top deals but also instills confidence in the market regarding further capital inflows into startups.
Record AI Rounds and New Unicorns: Investment Boom Continues
The artificial intelligence sector remains the primary driver of the venture boom. Investors are still eager to back AI leaders and are prepared to support colossal funding rounds. At the start of the year, record deals were recorded: for instance, Skild AI, a developer of a "universal brain" for robots, raised around $1.4 billion under the guidance of SoftBank, achieving a valuation of over $14 billion—one of the largest venture deals in recent months. Another example is San Francisco’s Higgsfield, specializing in generative video AI, which secured $80 million at a valuation of $1.3 billion just one year after product launch, instantly entering the "unicorn" club. Such mega rounds underscore the excitement surrounding AI: venture capital is flowing not only into AI models and applications but also into infrastructure for them (from cloud platforms to specialized chips). By the end of 2025, global investments in startups grew by approximately 30% largely due to mega-deals in AI, and 2026 is commencing with this trend continuing. The wave of new unicorns remains unbroken, although experts warn of overheating risks: competition among AI startups is intense, and only a few will ultimately justify such generous valuations.
IPO Market Revitalized: "Window of Opportunity" Expands for Startups
The global IPO market is steadily recovering from a protracted pause in recent years. Successful public listings of tech companies at the end of 2025 and early 2026 confirmed that investors are once again willing to purchase shares in growing startups. In Asia, there has been a surge in activity: several major Chinese and Asian tech companies have gone public on the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges, attracting billions of dollars and reviving interest in initial offerings in the region. The situation is also improving in the U.S. and Europe: a number of unicorns have taken the risk of entering the public market, and it has paid off. For example, an American fintech giant successfully debuted on the stock exchange, with shares rising on the first trading day, boosting confidence in the sector. For 2026, a number of high-profile IPOs are anticipated: among the most awaited are financial service Stripe, AI model developer OpenAI, data software provider Databricks, space company SpaceX, and others. Many are preparing for listings in the second half of the year. Investment banks note that the window for initial offerings remains open longer than anticipated, and the market is capable of absorbing a wave of new offerings. This is extremely positive for the venture ecosystem: successful IPOs allow funds to realize profits, return capital to investors, and direct resources to new projects. Despite ongoing selectivity and caution, the existence of a working IPO window is encouraging more startups to plan their strategies for going public.
Diversification of Investments: Fintech, Climate Projects, Biotech, and Beyond
Venture investments in 2025-2026 are being allocated across a wider array of industries, making the market less reliant on a single trend. Following the AI surge, investors have begun to refocus their attention on other segments. Primarily, there is a revival occurring in fintech: global funding for fintech startups grew by approximately 25-30% by the end of 2025 (although the number of deals decreased), and in the first week of 2026, several fintech companies announced significant funding rounds. For instance, the pan-Asian digital banking platform WeLab raised around $220 million in a Series D round—one of the largest deals in banking fintech recently. At the same time, interest in climate technologies and "green" startups is growing: sustainable development funds and major energy corporations are increasingly investing in renewable energy, energy storage, and climate fintech solutions. The year 2025 saw record levels of investment in climate and agri-tech projects, and this trend has persisted into 2026 against the backdrop of the global focus on ESG and sustainability.
Additionally, following previous downturns, there is a returning appetite for biotechnology and medtech. New drugs, drug development platforms, and medical services are once again receiving funding. In the U.S., several biotech startups raised rounds of $50-100 million in the first weeks of January, and a number of venture firms announced the establishment of specialized bio-funds totaling nearly $1 billion—a clear sign of renewed interest in the sector. Finally, in the context of geopolitical instability, investors are increasing their investments in defense technologies and cybersecurity. Startups developing drones, cybersecurity systems, and dual-use products are receiving both government grants and private investments. Thus, the venture market is no longer revolving solely around AI: it is diversifying, encompassing finance, climate, healthcare, security, and other sectors. This makes the entire startup ecosystem more resilient and balanced.
The Crypto Market Awakens: New Investments and Plans for IPOs
Another sign of market diversity has been the resurgence of investments in blockchain and crypto startups. Following an extended "crypto winter" in 2022-2023, venture activity in this segment is gradually recovering. In the first two weeks of 2026, global cryptocurrency and Web3 companies raised around $600 million collectively—a figure that inspires cautious optimism (though still far from 2021's records). Interest is being shown in various directions: from infrastructure for crypto trading and payments to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and blockchain games. For example, an American crypto startup in the payments domain recently closed a round of over $50 million, and several digital asset custody projects have received venture funding for business expansion.
An important indicator is that mature companies in the industry are preparing for public markets. Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken reportedly is preparing for its IPO in 2026 with an approximate valuation of $20 billion, which would become one of the largest debuts in the sector's history. It has also been revealed that Ethereum infrastructure developer ConsenSys plans to go public, which may attract investor attention to the Web3 sector. Even OpenAI, the primary beneficiary of the AI boom, is showing interest in related directions: in January, the company invested in startup Merge Labs, which focuses on neuro-computer interfaces (founded by Sam Altman), and entered into a multi-billion dollar agreement with AI chip manufacturer Cerebras. All of this indicates that the crypto and blockchain ecosystem has not entirely faded into the shadows—it is adapting to new conditions, shedding speculative overheating, and attracting more strategic investors. If regulators in various countries establish clear rules for digital assets, 2026 could become a pivotal year for more stable growth of crypto startups.
Consolidation and M&A: Consolidating Players and New Exits
Increased company valuations and fierce competition are driving the industry towards a wave of consolidation. Major tech corporations and mature startups are actively entering the M&A market, acquiring promising teams and products. The beginning of 2026 has seen significant growth in merger and acquisition deals: in the first week of January alone, over 700 M&A deals were announced worldwide, totaling around $39 billion, which is markedly higher than similar periods last year. In the high-tech sector, several noteworthy examples have emerged. Accenture announced its acquisition of the UK AI company Faculty as part of its strategy to enhance its capabilities in artificial intelligence. OpenAI, aside from external investments, has also entered the acquisition market—in January, it purchased a small startup, Torch, developing AI solutions for medical data for around $100 million, aiming to bolster its position in related areas. In cybersecurity, a series of acquisitions have been observed: American industry leader CrowdStrike secured agreements to acquire two startups (SGNL and Seraphic) in a single week for a combined total of approximately $1.16 billion, expanding its product portfolio in access protection and browser security.
Consolidation is affecting even the largest caliber: there are discussions in industry circles about potential mega-deals that could set new records. For example, rumors suggest that several AI companies may become acquisition targets for tech giants if their valuations continue to rise at such rates. For venture funds, the increasing M&A trend has dual implications. On one hand, strategic deals offer startups an alternative exit route (selling to a larger player) if IPOs are currently unavailable or unprofitable. On the other hand, large corporations, by acquiring talent and technologies, may further strengthen their market power, which raises concerns among regulators. Nonetheless, the wave of mergers and acquisitions reflects the maturity of certain market segments: the most successful projects are reaching a stage where their acquisition becomes a logical progression for the industry. It is expected that in 2026, M&A deals will continue to increase in number, especially in the AI, fintech, and cybersecurity sectors, providing investors with more opportunities for exits.
Government Policy: Incentives for Innovation and Strengthening Oversight
Government initiatives and regulatory decisions are becoming crucial factors influencing the venture climate. Many countries launched special programs to support startups and future technologies during 2025-2026. For example, India announced a new phase of the Startup India program as it approaches its decade mark: the plan includes expanding seed funding and tax incentives for tech companies to accelerate the growth of the local startup landscape. In Europe, projects to finance innovations under the Horizon Europe program continue, while government funds are being created targeting strategic industries (AI, microelectronics, "green" energy) to strengthen the technological sovereignty of the region. In the Middle East, Gulf countries' governments are investing record amounts into creating entire "startup cities" and tech parks, seeking to attract entrepreneurs and venture capital from around the world.
Simultaneously, regulators are tightening supervision over the largest market players to avoid monopolization and unfair competition. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stated at the beginning of 2026 that it will closely examine the practices of so-called "acquihire" deals, where tech giants do not acquire startups entirely but lure away their teams, effectively "absorbing" talent without an official merger. Such steps by regulatory authorities aim to close loopholes in antitrust legislation and maintain healthy competition, which ultimately benefits both startups and investors in the long run. In Europe, antitrust agencies continue their investigations against Big Tech, and new laws (Digital Markets Act, etc.) impose restrictions on the largest platforms, opening up more opportunities for young innovative companies. Overall, current government policy balances between two objectives: stimulating innovation (through investments, grants, and improved business conditions) and preventing excessive concentration of influence in the hands of specific corporations. This balance will largely dictate the rules of the game in the venture space in 2026.
Regional Focus: Russia and the CIS Seek Growth Paths
In Russia and the CIS, the venture market is undergoing a contradictory period. On one hand, sanctions and economic turbulence have led to a decline in the total volume of venture investments. It is estimated that in 2025, the total volume of investments in Russian tech startups decreased by approximately 10-18%, amounting to about $150 million (around 7-8 billion rubles) for the year, with the number of deals also decreasing. Nevertheless, promising trends have emerged even in these conditions. The main driver of the local market has been the same artificial intelligence: it is AI startups that have captured the lion's share of deals and managed to attract corporate clients. Private investors and corporations are shifting their focus from rapid growth to sustainability and profitability—in 2025, many deals were associated with companies already generating revenue and capable of operating independently in a challenging environment.
The government is attempting to compensate for the outflow of foreign capital by creating new funds and support measures. Several initiatives targeting early-stage startups have been launched: development institutions and major banks have established funds for investments in AI, import-substituting IT solutions, and industrial technologies. For instance, with participation from the largest banks, a venture investment fund is being formed, totaling several tens of billions of rubles, aimed at supporting promising projects in software and electronics. Accelerators associated with corporations, universities, and tech parks continue to assist startups in their growth. Despite the challenging backdrop, new startups are emerging in Russia—especially in fintech (targeting the domestic market), B2B services for traditional industries, AgriTech solutions, and, of course, military/dual-use applications, where there is government demand. The ecosystem is slowly but surely adapting: many teams are re-registering in friendly jurisdictions to maintain access to global clients and investments while conducting R&D in Russia. Analysts note that further easing of monetary policy (lowering the Central Bank's key rate) in 2026 may gradually invigorate venture activity in the local market. Thus, the region is striving not to fall behind: even with minimal external financing, steps are being taken to maintain and grow its startup ecosystem, preparing for more favorable times.
