① According to statistics from data provider PitchBook, venture capital (VC) firms have injected $192.7 billion into artificial intelligence startups so far this year, setting a new global record high; ② This also signals that 2025 is expected to be the first year in which more than half of VC funding flows into the AI industry.
According to data provider PitchBook, venture capital (VC) firms have injected $1.927 trillion into artificial intelligence startups so far this year, setting a new global record high.
This also signals that 2025 is expected to be the first year in which more than half of VC funding flows into the AI industry.
The statistics show that the majority of the funds have flowed to mature startups—Anthropic and xAI both secured financing in the tens or even hundreds of billions this quarter, while some lesser-known emerging companies, particularly those outside the artificial intelligence sector, have struggled.
PitchBook found that the lingering effects of tightened public listings and mergers and acquisitions environments have made some venture capital firms reluctant to make new investments in unproven businesses.
Kyle Sanford, PitchBook’s research director, pointed out, “Regardless of which area you observe, the market exhibits a polarized trend—you are either involved in artificial intelligence or completely out of it; either investing in large enterprises or becoming a marginal player.”
In terms of specific proportions, 62.7% of U.S. venture capital funds were directed toward artificial intelligence companies this quarter. Globally, the proportion of venture capital flowing into AI reached 53.2%.
So far this year, the total global venture capital investment has reached $366.8 billion, with the U.S. market’s share continuing to rise—to $250.2 billion.
Overall environment for startups remains challenging.
Notably, OpenAI, the global leader in large AI models, has set a new valuation ‘high’ among global startups after announcing an equity transaction earlier this week. It is reported that current and former employees of OpenAI sold approximately $6.6 billion worth of shares to buyers including Thrive Capital, SoftBank Group, Dragoneer Investment Group, MGX, and T. Rowe Price.
However, according to a report by PitchBook, while a small number of artificial intelligence companies have secured substantial investments, the overall outlook for startups is becoming increasingly challenging.
The total number of companies globally receiving venture capital investment in 2025 is expected to hit a multi-year low, with the number of newly funded venture capital firms also following this trend.
According to PitchBook data, as of this year, a total of 823 venture funds globally have collectively raised over USD 80 billion, representing a significant decline compared to 4,430 venture institutions that raised approximately USD 412 billion in 2022.
Sanford noted that investors in venture capital funds and venture partners are ‘choosing their investment directions more prudently,’ concentrating their capital into the artificial intelligence sector.
Editor /rice
