In February, global venture funding reached a staggering $189 billion, marking the highest amount ever recorded for a single month. This surge was heavily influenced by three major companies, which collectively attracted 83% of the total capital. Leading the way was OpenAI, securing $110 billion in what became the largest round for a private company in history.
Following OpenAI, Anthropic raised $30 billion, while Waymo, the self-driving unit of Alphabet, acquired $16 billion. Together, these three companies accounted for a significant portion of the funding, leaving only a small share for the remaining startups. Notably, additional firms like Rapidus, Wayve, World Labs, and Cerebras Systems each garnered over $1 billion as well.
Despite this record-setting month, seed-stage funding saw an 11% decline year over year, totaling $2.6 billion. However, early-stage investment rose by 47%, reaching $13.1 billion. U.S.-based startups dominated the scene, raising $174 billion, which comprised 92% of the global total, up from 59% a year prior.
AI-driven companies were particularly successful, amassing $171 billion and making up 90% of the month’s venture funding. This trend highlights the growing prominence of AI and hardware sectors, particularly in autonomous vehicles and semiconductor technologies.