Current Startup and Venture Capital News as of February 7, 2026: Major Funding Rounds, AI Investment Growth, Venture Fund Activity, and Key Global Trends for Investors
As of early February 2026, the global venture capital market is steadily recovering from the downturn of recent years. Preliminary estimates indicate that 2025 was one of the most successful years for startup investments, second only to the record years of 2021 and 2022, indicating a return of substantial private capital into the technology sector. Investors worldwide are once again actively funding promising companies: record-scale deals are being made, and startup plans for IPOs are back on the agenda. Major venture funds are stepping up with new mega rounds and strategies, while governments and corporations are ramping up their support for innovation, striving not to fall behind in the global technology race. As a result, at the beginning of 2026, the venture market is displaying positive dynamics, inspiring cautious optimism, although investors remain selective in assessing projects and the viability of business models.
Geographically, the upswing is global in nature, though unevenly distributed. The United States remains the main engine, accounting for the lion's share of large rounds (especially in the AI sector). Europe continues to increase venture investments: at the end of 2025, Germany surpassed the United Kingdom for the first time in attracted capital, strengthening the positions of European tech hubs. In Asia, the dynamics are mixed: the Indian ecosystem has reached a new level of maturity (with the emergence of the first "unicorns" of 2026 in January and a resurgence of high-profile IPOs on local exchanges), while in China, activity remains restrained due to regulatory pressure and a reallocation of resources towards domestic priorities. Conversely, the Middle East and North Africa are speeding up: funds from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are pouring billions into tech companies both regionally and globally, funding fintech, cloud services, and AI startups. The startup ecosystems of Russia and neighboring countries are also striving to keep pace, launching local funds and programs, albeit with significantly smaller volumes. Thus, the new venture boom is encompassing almost all continents, forming a more balanced global innovation ecosystem.
Below are the key events and trends defining the agenda for startups and venture investments as of February 7, 2026:
- The return of mega funds and large investors. Leading venture firms are raising record-sized funds and sharply increasing their investments, refilling the market with capital and reigniting appetite for risk.
- Unprecedented AI mega rounds and a new wave of unicorns. Fantastically large investments in artificial intelligence are elevating startup valuations to previously unseen heights, spawning dozens of new "unicorn" companies.
- Climate technologies and energy attract mega deals. The sector of sustainable energy and climate tech is taking the spotlight with multimillion and billion-dollar funding rounds worldwide.
- Fintech consolidation: major exits and a wave of M&A. Mature fintech players are becoming targets for multi-billion dollar acquisitions, while unicorns are expanding through strategic purchases.
- Revival of the IPO market. Technology companies' initial public offerings are back in focus: successful IPOs inspire new candidates to prepare for going public.
- Focus on defense, space, and cybersecurity startups. Venture funds are reallocating capital to strategic sectors—from defense and space to cybersecurity—responding to geopolitical challenges.
- A resurgence of investment in biotech and medtech. After a prolonged downturn, the biotech and digital health sector is once again attracting significant capital, leveraging M&A successes and scientific breakthroughs.
The Return of Mega Funds: Big Money Back in the Market
The largest investment players are making a triumphant return to the venture market, signaling a renewed appetite for risk. Global funds are announcing unprecedented capital-raising rounds: American giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has raised over $15 billion for new funds, bringing its total assets under management to a record $90 billion. These funds are directed towards priority areas such as artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, defense technology, and biotech. Japan is not lagging behind either: SoftBank has launched its third Vision Fund with approximately $40 billion and is simultaneously strengthening its presence in the AI sector. At the end of 2025, SoftBank invested $22.5 billion in OpenAI, marking one of the largest single investments in startup industry history. Other players are also actively adding to their capital stash: for example, Lightspeed Venture Partners has closed new funds totaling over $9 billion—a record in the firm's 25-year history—while Tiger Global, having recovered from recent losses, has returned to the market with a $2.2 billion fund, reaffirming its ambitions.
The influx of such "big capital" is filling the market with liquidity and intensifying competition for the most promising deals. Sovereign funds from the Middle East and state institutions worldwide are also pouring billions into tech projects, creating new mega platforms for financing innovation. It is estimated that the total volume of free capital ("dry powder") at the disposal of investors already amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars and is ready to be deployed as confidence in the market strengthens. The return of large capital confirms investors' belief in the continued growth of the technology sector and their desire not to miss the next major technological breakthrough.
AI Startup Boom: Mega Rounds and New Unicorns
The artificial intelligence sector is the main driver of the current venture boom, setting historical records in terms of deal volume. Investors are eager to secure their place at the forefront of the AI revolution and are prepared to finance colossal rounds, supporting the leaders of the race. Already at the beginning of 2026, deals of unprecedented scale have been announced: for example, Waymo (the autonomous division of Alphabet) raised about $16 billion in new funding at a valuation of $126 billion, making it one of the most valuable startups in history. Cerebras Systems, a chip developer for AI, also closed a significant round, securing $1 billion in investments (with a valuation of about $23 billion). Industry leader OpenAI is reportedly negotiating to raise up to $100 billion at a valuation of around $800 billion—such scale of private funding has never been seen before (discussions involve SoftBank as well as corporations like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon, along with Middle Eastern funds). OpenAI's competitor, the startup Anthropic, is also reportedly raising up to $15 billion at a valuation of about $350 billion.
The frenzy around AI is also leading to a surge of new unicorns: in just the past few months, dozens of companies worldwide have surpassed the $1 billion valuation mark. In the US, projects in generative video and voice AI (like Higgsfield, Deepgram, and others) are reaching unicorn status at an unprecedented pace, while in Europe, large rounds in AI (for instance, $350 million for the German company Parloa at a valuation of $3 billion) confirm the global nature of the AI boom. Investors' appetite for AI remains strong, although experts caution about the risks of overheating and inflated expectations. Notably, venture capitalists are now actively investing not only in applied AI products but also in the infrastructure for them—from powerful chips and data centers to security and regulatory systems. This massive influx of capital accelerates progress in the sector but requires the market to pay close attention to the sustainability of business models to prevent euphoria from subsequently turning into a sharp cooling.
Climate Technologies and Energy: Mega Deals on the Rise
Against the backdrop of the global shift towards sustainable energy, substantial capital is also flowing into climate technology projects. In 2025, the total volume of climate-specific funds exceeded $100 billion (with a majority raised by funds in Europe), reflecting an unprecedented level of investor interest in "green" innovations. Private funding rounds in this space now often reach hundreds of millions of dollars. For example, US-based TerraPower, which is developing compact nuclear reactors, secured around $650 million for technology development, while startup Helion Energy raised $425 million to create the first commercial fusion reactor. Earlier, in January, climate project Base Power in the USA raised $1 billion at a valuation of $3 billion to expand its energy storage network, making it one of the largest deals in climate tech history.
Venture funds are increasingly betting on solutions that can accelerate the decarbonization of the economy and meet the rising demand for energy. Significant investments are being directed toward energy storage, new types of batteries and fuels, electric vehicle development, carbon capture technologies, and even "climate fintech"—platforms for trading carbon credits and insuring climate risks. Historically, climate and energy projects were considered risky for VC due to prolonged payback periods, but now private and corporate investors are willing to play the long game, expecting substantial returns from innovations in this area. Therefore, sustainable technologies are becoming a priority for the venture market, gradually advancing the "green" transition of the economy.
Fintech Consolidation: Billion Dollar Exits and a Wave of M&A
The financial technology sector is undergoing a new wave of consolidation, signaling the maturation of the fintech market. Major banks and investors are eager to integrate cutting-edge fintech solutions: in January, American bank Capital One agreed to acquire startup Brex (a platform for managing corporate expenses) for approximately $5.15 billion. This deal became the largest fintech acquisition by a bank, highlighting the intention of traditional financial giants to embrace innovation. In Europe, venture capital firm Hg acquired the American financial platform OneStream for approximately $6.4 billion, purchasing stakes from previous investors (including KKR). Additionally, Deutsche Börse announced the acquisition of investment platform Allfunds for €5.3 billion to strengthen its position in the WealthTech sector, while US Bancorp is buying brokerage firm BTIG for around $1 billion.
Alongside acquisitions by corporate heavyweights, fintech unicorns themselves are pursuing purchases. For instance, Australian payment service unicorn Airwallex is expanding its presence in Asia by acquiring Korean company Paynuri. This surge in mergers and acquisitions indicates that as the industry matures, successful fintech companies either come under the wing of larger players or grow through strategic acquisitions. For venture investors, this presents new opportunities for lucrative exits, while for the market as a whole, it means the consolidation of key players and the emergence of multi-product platforms based on acquired startups.
The IPO Market Comes Alive: Startups Head to the Public Markets Again
Following a prolonged hiatus, the global market for initial public offerings of technology companies is showing a robust revival. 2025 exceeded analysts' expectations in terms of high-profile IPOs: in the US alone, at least 23 companies went public with a capitalization of over $1 billion (for comparison, there were only 9 such debuts the previous year), and the total valuation of these offerings surpassed $125 billion. Investors are once again ready to welcome profitable and fast-growing companies to public markets, especially those with a clear narrative linked to AI or other "hot" technologies. By the end of 2025, successful debuts of fintech giants Stripe and neobank Chime took place (Chime’s shares rose by approximately 40% on the first trading day), restoring confidence in the IPO window of opportunity.
In 2026, this trend is expected to continue: several major startups are openly hinting at preparations for stock offerings. Among the most anticipated IPO candidates are:
- Leading fintech unicorns: payment platforms Plaid and Revolut;
- Leaders in artificial intelligence: AI model developer OpenAI, big data platform Databricks, and business-focused AI startup Cohere;
- Other technology giants: for example, space company SpaceX (if market conditions are favorable).
Successful public offerings of these companies could provide an additional boost to the market, although experts warn that volatility could quickly close the current "IPO window". Nevertheless, the resumption of startups going public strengthens the belief that investors are willing to reward companies with strong growth and profitability metrics, while venture funds gain long-awaited opportunities for substantial exits.
Defense, Space, and Cyber Startups in the Spotlight
Geopolitical tensions and new types of risks are reshaping the priorities among venture investors. In the US, the trend of American Dynamism is gaining momentum—investments in technologies related to national security. Part of the capital from those mega funds (such as a16z) is directed specifically towards defense and "deep tech" projects. Startups developing solutions for the military, space, and cybersecurity are increasingly attracting nine-figure sums. For example, California-based Onebrief, which creates military planning software, recently received about $200 million at a valuation exceeding $2 billion and even made a small acquisition to expand its platform's capabilities. Concurrently, specialized players are rapidly growing: Belgian startup Aikido Security, which offers code and cloud cybersecurity platforms, achieved unicorn status (with a valuation of $1 billion) in under two years of operation.
Such successes reflect a growing demand for technologies that ensure defense and cybersecurity. Investments are directed towards everything from supply chain protection (for instance, British project Cyb3r Operations raised $5 million for monitoring cyber risks) to new satellite reconnaissance tools. Moreover, support for defense and space startups is being bolstered not only by private funds but also by government programs in the US, Europe, Israel, and other countries striving to gain a technological edge. Thus, "dual-use" technologies related to security are firmly entrenched in the venture market's focus alongside commercial projects.
A Resurgence of Investment in Biotech and Digital Health
After several challenging years of "biotech winter," a warming trend has been observed in the life sciences sector. Major deals at the end of 2025 restored investor confidence in biotech: for instance, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer agreed to acquire the company Metsera (developer of obesity medications) for $10 billion, and AbbVie purchased ImmunoGen for approximately $10.1 billion—these M&A deals confirmed that the demand for promising drugs remains high. Against this backdrop, venture investors are again ready to finance biotech startups with substantial sums. At the start of 2026, signs of renewed funding activity emerged: US startup Parabilis Medicines, developing innovative oncology drugs, raised about $305 million—one of the largest rounds for the sector in recent times. Rounds for medical technologies and digital health are also increasing, especially those intersecting with artificial intelligence.
Market participants note that 2026 is expected to herald a gradual exit from crisis for the biotech and medtech segments. Investors are diversifying their investments, paying attention not only to traditional areas (oncology, immunology) but also to new niches—including genetic technologies, rare diseases, neurotechnologies, and medical AI solutions. Increased M&A activity in biopharma is anticipated as major pharmaceutical companies experience a "hunger" for new products due to impending patent expirations. Although the IPO market for biotech is not yet fully restored, significant late rounds and strategic deals provide startups in this field with the necessary capital to advance their developments. Consequently, biotechnology and healthcare are once again becoming attractive domains for venture investments, promising significant growth potential for investors, provided that the projects demonstrate scientific viability.
Looking Ahead: Cautious Optimism and Sustainable Growth
Despite the rapid rise in venture activity at the beginning of the year, investors maintain a level of caution, mindful of the lessons from the recent market cooling. Capital is indeed returning to the technology sector, but the requirements for startups have tightened: funds expect clear business models, economic efficiency, and transparent paths to profitability from teams. Company valuations are once again rising (particularly in the AI segment), yet investors are increasingly focusing on risk diversification and the long-term sustainability of their portfolios. The returned liquidity—from billion-dollar venture funds to new IPOs—creates opportunities for substantial growth but also intensifies competition for outstanding projects.
It is highly likely that in 2026, the venture capital industry will enter a phase of more balanced development. Financing for "breakthrough" areas (AI, climate tech, biotech, defense, etc.) will continue, but greater emphasis will be placed on quality growth, corporate governance transparency, and compliance of startups with regulatory requirements. This more measured approach should help the market avoid overheating and lay the foundation for sustainable innovation development in the long run.
