Startup and Venture Investment News for Monday, February 9, 2026: Major Rounds, VC Activity, Growth of AI Startups, Fintech and Biotech, Key Trends in the Global Venture Market
As of early February 2026, the global venture capital market is confidently recovering after the decline of recent years. Preliminary estimates suggest that 2025 was nearly a record year for startup investments, slightly trailing the peak years of 2021–2022. Private capital is once again flowing into the technology sector en masse: investors worldwide are actively financing promising companies, deals of unprecedented scale are being made, and startup IPO plans are once again coming to the forefront. Major players in the venture industry are launching new colossal funds and investment programs, while governments and corporations are ramping up support for innovation. As a result, at the beginning of 2026, the venture market is exhibiting positive dynamics, instilling cautious optimism – even though investors remain selective in assessing projects and their business models.
The surge in venture activity is global in nature, although it is distributed unevenly. The United States remains the locomotive – American startups account for the lion's share of large rounds, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. In Europe, investment has continued to rise: by the end of 2025, Germany surpassed the UK for the first time in a decade in terms of total venture capital raised, reinforcing the positions of European technology hubs. In Asia, the dynamics are mixed: the Indian ecosystem has reached a new level of maturity (with the first “unicorns” of 2026 emerging in January, and notable local IPOs resuming), while venture activity remains subdued in China due to regulatory restrictions and a shift in focus to domestic priorities. In contrast, the Middle East is experiencing a surge: funds from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are pouring billions of dollars into technology companies – both in their region and globally – betting on fintech, cloud services, and AI. The startup ecosystems in Russia and neighboring countries are also striving to keep pace by launching local funds and support programs, although the volume of venture investments there is still significantly lower. Thus, the new venture boom has a truly global scale, encompassing most regions.
Here are the key trends shaping the venture market agenda as of February 9, 2026:
- The return of mega funds and large investors. Leading venture firms are raising record-breaking funds and sharply increasing investments, once again saturating the market with capital and igniting a risk appetite.
- Record AI megarauds and a new wave of “unicorns.” Historically massive investments in the artificial intelligence sector are driving startup valuations to unprecedented heights, spawning dozens of new “unicorn” companies with billion-dollar valuations.
- Climate technologies and energy attract megadeals. The sustainable energy and climate tech sector is coming to the forefront, thanks to multimillion and even billion-dollar funding rounds globally.
- Consolidation in fintech and a wave of M&A. Mature fintech players are becoming targets for multibillion-dollar acquisitions, while some “unicorns” themselves are expanding through strategic acquisitions.
- Revival of the IPO market. Initial public offerings of technology companies are back in the spotlight: successful IPOs inspire new candidates to prepare for going public, confirming the opening of the long-awaited “window” for exits.
- Focus on defense, space, and cyber startups. Venture funds are reallocating capital into strategic sectors – from defense and space to cybersecurity – in response to new geopolitical challenges.
- Revival of investment in biotech and digital health. After a protracted downturn, the biotech and medtech sector is once again attracting significant capital, relying on deal successes and scientific breakthroughs in recent months.
The Return of Mega Funds: Big Money Back in the Market
The venture market is triumphantly welcoming back the largest investment players, signaling a renewed appetite for risk. Global funds are announcing unprecedented capital raising rounds. For instance, the American firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has raised over $15 billion across several new funds, bringing its total assets under management to record levels. Japan is also not lagging: SoftBank has launched its third Vision Fund with a volume of around $40 billion while also strengthening its presence in the AI sector (at the end of 2025, SoftBank invested $22.5 billion in OpenAI – one of the largest single investments in the history of the startup industry). Other large players have also bolstered their “piggy banks”: for example, Lightspeed Venture Partners has closed new funds totaling more than $9 billion (a record for the firm's 25-year history), and Tiger Global, recovering 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 Gulf states and government institutions worldwide are also pouring billions into tech projects, forming new mega-platforms for funding innovation. Estimates suggest that the total volume of available funds (“dry powder”) among investors is already in the hundreds of billions of dollars and ready to be deployed as confidence in the market strengthens. The return of such substantial sums affirms the investment community’s belief in the continued growth of the technology sector and the desire to not miss the next significant technological breakthrough.
The AI Startup Boom: Megarauds and New “Unicorns”
The artificial intelligence sector remains the main driver of the current venture upswing, showcasing record funding volumes. Investors are eager to position themselves at the forefront of the AI revolution and are willing to invest colossal sums in the leaders of the race. Just in the first weeks of 2026, deals of unprecedented scale have been announced. For example, the Waymo project (the autonomous unit of Alphabet) has raised approximately $16 billion in new capital with a valuation of around $126 billion, becoming one of the most valuable startups in history. Elon Musk's startup xAI secured about $20 billion in investments with strategic participation from Nvidia – a phenomenal volume of funding for a private tech company. Industry leader OpenAI is reportedly negotiating to raise up to $100 billion at a valuation of around $800 billion – a private round of such magnitude has never been seen before (SoftBank, along with corporations like Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and Middle Eastern funds, are part of the discussions). Competitor OpenAI, Anthropic, is also reportedly aiming to raise up to $15 billion at a valuation of around $350 billion.
Riding the wave of excitement, new “unicorns” are rapidly multiplying: only in recent months, dozens of companies worldwide have exceeded the $1 billion valuation mark. In the US, ultra-fast “unicorn” status is being achieved by generative AI projects – from video services to voice assistants. For instance, companies Higgsfield and Deepgram reached “unicorn” status in less than two years, thanks to successes in generative video and speech. Europe is also witnessing large AI rounds (for example, the German platform Parloa raised around $350 million at a valuation of ~$3 billion), confirming the global nature of the AI boom. Investor appetite for AI remains strong, although experts warn of the risks of market overheating and inflated expectations. Notably, venture capitalists are now actively investing not only in applied AI products but also in infrastructure for them – ranging from powerful chips and data centers to security and control systems. Such a massive influx of capital accelerates progress in the industry, but it also compels market participants to carefully monitor the viability of business models to prevent the current euphoria from turning into a sharp cooling.
Climate Technologies and Energy: Megadeals on the Rise
Amid the global transition to sustainable energy, significant capital is flowing into climate technology. In 2025, the total amount raised by specialized climate venture funds exceeded $100 billion (the majority of this capital was accumulated by funds in Europe), which indicates unprecedented investor interest in “green” innovations. Large private funding rounds in this area, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, have ceased to be a rarity. For instance, the American startup TerraPower, which develops compact nuclear reactors, raised approximately $650 million, while Helion Energy secured $425 million for the creation of the first commercial nuclear fusion reactor. Moreover, in January, the Austin-based project Base Power, which develops networks of home battery systems and “virtual power plants,” raised around $1 billion (C round) at a valuation of ~$3 billion, making it one of the largest deals in the history of climate tech.
Venture funds are becoming increasingly proactive in betting on solutions capable of accelerating the decarbonization of the economy and meeting the growing global energy demand. Significant investments are being directed towards energy storage, new types of batteries and fuels, electric mobility, carbon capture technologies, as well as “climate fintech” – platforms for trading carbon credits and insuring climate risks. While climate and energy projects were previously considered too risky for VC (due to lengthy payback periods), both private and corporate investors are now willing to play the long game, anticipating substantial returns from innovations in this sector. Sustainable technologies are firmly establishing themselves as priority areas for the venture market, gradually bringing the “green” transition of the global economy closer.
Consolidation and M&A: The Consolidation of Players
The fintech sector has witnessed a new wave of consolidation, signaling the maturation of the fintech market. Major banks and investors are eager to integrate advanced fintech solutions, resulting in several high-profile deals being announced in January 2026:
- Capital One agreed to acquire the fintech startup Brex (a corporate spending management platform) for approximately $5.15 billion. This acquisition marks the largest “bank-fintech” acquisition in history, emphasizing the traditional financial giants' drive to innovate.
- The European fund Hg Capital is purchasing the American financial platform OneStream for approximately $6.4 billion, acquiring stakes from previous investors (including KKR).
- The exchange operator Deutsche Börse announced the acquisition of the investment platform Allfunds for €5.3 billion to strengthen its position in WealthTech.
- The American bank US Bancorp is acquiring the brokerage firm BTIG for approximately $1 billion, expanding its presence in the investment services market.
- In addition to acquisitions by corporations, fintech “unicorns” themselves are venturing into acquisitions. For instance, the Australian payment service Airwallex, a unicorn, is strengthening its business in Asia by acquiring the Korean fintech company Paynuri (deal amount undisclosed).
Moreover, consolidation extends beyond fintech alone: tech giants are also willing to spend billions to keep pace in the race. For instance, Google is advancing a record deal to acquire Israeli cloud cybersecurity startup Wiz for approximately $32 billion – one of the largest startup acquisitions in history. This surge in mergers and acquisitions indicates that as the industry matures, successful startups are either coming under the wing of larger players or are expanding their influence through strategic acquisitions. For venture investors, this trend presents new opportunities for lucrative exits, while for the market as a whole, it signifies the consolidation of key players and the emergence of multi-product platforms based on acquired projects.
The IPO Market Revives: Startups Go Public Again
After a prolonged pause, the global market for initial public offerings of technology companies is confidently reviving. The year 2025 exceeded analysts’ expectations for the number of high-profile IPOs: in the US alone, at least 23 companies with valuations exceeding $1 billion went public (for comparison, there were only 9 such debuts the previous year), and the total market capitalization of these placements exceeded $125 billion. Investors are once again eager to welcome profitable and fast-growing companies into the public market, particularly if the startup has a strong narrative related to AI or other “hot” technologies. At the end of 2025, there were successful debuts by fintech giant Stripe and neobank Chime (Chime's shares rose approximately 40% on the first trading day), restoring confidence and effectively opening a new “window of opportunity” for IPOs.
In 2026, this trend is expected to continue: several major startups have already subtly hinted at preparing for stock offerings. Among the most anticipated IPO candidates:
- Major fintech “unicorns”: payment platforms Plaid and Revolut;
- Leaders in AI: AI model developer OpenAI, big data platform Databricks, and corporate AI startup Cohere;
- Other tech giants, such as aerospace company SpaceX (if market conditions prove favorable).
The successful public exits of these companies could provide an additional boost to the market, while experts remind that volatility could suddenly close the current “IPO window.” Nevertheless, the activity of startups on the exchange strengthens the belief that investors are ready to reward companies with strong growth and profitability metrics, while venture funds are presented with long-awaited opportunities for significant exits.
Defense, Space, and Cyber Startups in the Spotlight
Geopolitical tensions and new risks are reshaping the priorities of venture investors. In the US, the trend of American Dynamism is gaining traction – focused investments in technologies related to national security. It is notable that part of the funds from the aforementioned new mega funds (e.g., a16z) are being directed towards defense and deeptech projects. Startups developing solutions for the military, space, and cybersecurity are increasingly attracting nine-figure sums. For instance, California-based Onebrief, which is creating software for military planning, recently received around $200 million in investments at a valuation exceeding $2 billion and even made the acquisition of a small specialized startup to enhance its platform's capabilities. Concurrently, specialized players are gaining prominence: for example, the Belgian startup Aikido Security, offering a code and cloud service cybersecurity protection platform, attained a “unicorn” valuation (~$1 billion) in less than two years of development.
Such successes reflect the growing market demand for technologies that ensure defense and cybersecurity. Investments are being directed towards everything – from protecting supply chains (e.g., the UK project Cyb3r Operations raised ~$5 million for monitoring cyber risks) to the latest satellite intelligence tools. Support for defense and space startups is being strengthened not only by private funds but also by governmental programs in the US, Europe, Israel, and several other countries, all striving to gain a technological edge. Thus, dual-use technologies related to security have firmly secured their place in the focus of the venture market alongside traditional commercial projects.
Revival of Investment in Biotech and Digital Health
After several challenging years of “biotech winter” in the life sciences sector, signs of warming are emerging. Major deals at the end of 2025 have restored investor confidence in biotech: pharmaceutical giant Pfizer agreed to acquire Metsera (a developer of obesity treatments) for about $10 billion, while AbbVie announced the acquisition of oncology drug developer ImmunoGen for ~$10.1 billion. These acquisitions confirmed that the demand for promising medicines remains high. Against this backdrop, venture investors are once again willing to fund biotech startups with substantial amounts. At the beginning of 2026, the first signs of a revival in funding appeared: American startup Parabilis Medicines, which is developing innovative oncology drugs, raised approximately $305 million – one of the largest rounds for the industry in recent times.
Market experts note that in 2026, the Biotech/MedTech segment may gradually emerge from the crisis. Investors are diversifying their investments, paying attention not only to traditional areas (oncology, immunology) but also to new niches – gene engineering, treatments for rare diseases, neurotechnologies, and medical AI solutions. An increase in mergers and acquisitions in biopharma is expected, as large pharmaceutical companies experience a “hunger” for new products ahead of patent expirations. Although the IPO market for biotech has not yet fully recovered, large late rounds and strategic deals provide these startups with the necessary capital to advance their developments. Therefore, biotechnology and healthcare are regaining their attractiveness as areas for venture investments, promising investors significant growth potential – provided the scientific validity of the projects.
Looking Ahead: Cautious Optimism and Sustainable Growth
Despite the rapid uptick in venture activity at the beginning of the year, investors remain cautious, keeping in mind the lessons from the recent market cooling. Capital has indeed flowed back into the technology sector, but demands on startups have noticeably tightened: funds expect teams to present clear business models, economic efficiency, and understandable paths to profitability. Company valuations are rising again (especially in the AI segment), but investors are increasingly focusing on risk diversification and the long-term sustainability of their portfolios. The re-emergence of liquidity – from billion-dollar venture funds to new IPOs – creates opportunities for substantial growth, but it also intensifies competition for standout projects.
In all likelihood, the venture capital industry in 2026 will shift into a phase of more balanced development. Funding for breakthrough areas (AI, climate technologies, biotech, defense, etc.) will continue, but greater emphasis will be placed on growth quality, management transparency, and compliance of startups with regulatory requirements. This more measured approach should help the market avoid overheating and lay the groundwork for the sustainable development of innovations in the long term.
