In early 2026, significant funding activity in the AI sector continued, with notable investments supporting various companies. Among these, Elon Musk's xAI secured a remarkable $20 billion in its Series E funding round, while Merge Labs, co-founded by Sam Altman, raised $250 million in seed funding led by OpenAI.
The trends from 2024 indicated a robust environment for AI startups, as 49 companies attracted funding rounds exceeding $100 million. In 2025, although the number of firms raising over $1 billion decreased, four companies, including Anthropic, achieved this milestone multiple times.
Key funding rounds in late 2025 featured several high-profile companies. For instance, Unconventional AI raised $475 million in a seed round, while Fal announced a $140 million Series D round. Other notable rounds included $130 million for Chai Discovery and $275 million for Genspark.
As the AI industry progresses into 2026, analysts are keenly observing whether the current momentum will continue.