Global Startup and Venture Investment News for Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Mega-Rounds in AI, Resurgence of Mega Funds, IPO Market Activation, and Key Deals in the Global Venture Landscape.
As we enter 2026, the global venture capital market is on a confident recovery trajectory following a downturn in previous years. The year 2025 marked one of the highest levels of startup financing (only behind the peaks of 2021-2022), signaling that the period of stagnation is behind us. Investors worldwide are once again actively funding technology projects — multimillion-dollar deals are being concluded, and IPO plans for promising companies are taking center stage. Major players are returning to the market with significant sums, while governments and corporations are ramping up their support for innovation. As a result, private capital is flowing back into the startup ecosystem, fueling growth at all stages.
The increase in venture activity is observed across all regions. The U.S. and, notably, Silicon Valley remain leaders (primarily due to the artificial intelligence sector). The Middle East is experiencing a historic surge: in 2025, startups in the region attracted approximately $3.8 billion (+74% year-over-year) thanks to an influx of international capital, predominantly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In Europe, venture investments remain high. There is also a revival in emerging markets: India has already surpassed China in venture investments, while Southeast Asia and Gulf countries are experiencing an uptick amid a relative decline in China. The startup ecosystems in Russia and the CIS are striving to keep pace, launching local funds and support programs despite external constraints. A new global venture boom is forming, albeit with investors remaining selective and cautious, mindful of the lessons learned from the recent market correction.
- Return of Mega Funds and Large Investors. Top-tier venture players are raising record-size funds and significantly increasing investments, saturating the market with capital and rekindling the appetite for risk.
- Record Rounds in AI and New "Unicorns." Unprecedentedly large deals are elevating startup valuations to unprecedented heights, especially in the artificial intelligence segment.
- Activation of the IPO Market. Successful technology company IPOs and new filing requests confirm that the long-awaited "window" for exits has reopened.
- Diversification of Industry Focus. Venture capital is flowing not only into AI but also into fintech, environmental projects, biotechnology, defense technologies, and even crypto startups.
- Wave of Consolidation and M&A Deals. Large mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments are reshaping the industry landscape, creating opportunities for exits and accelerated growth.
- Local Focus: Russia and CIS. Despite constraints, new funds and initiatives aimed at developing local startup ecosystems are being launched in the region, attracting investor attention.
Return of Mega Funds: Big Money Back in the Market
The largest investment players are re-entering the venture arena — a clear indication of revived risk appetite. American fund Andreessen Horowitz kicked off 2026 with the announcement of new funds totaling around $15 billion (including a multibillion-dollar growth fund). Lightspeed attracted ~$9 billion at the end of 2025 — another testament to the return of significant capital to the industry. Sovereign funds from Gulf countries are also ramping up their activities: they are injecting tens of billions of dollars into technology projects and implementing extensive programs to develop the startup sector in the Middle East. Renowned firms from Silicon Valley have amassed unprecedented reserves of uninvested capital — hundreds of billions of dollars, ready to be deployed as confidence returns to the market. The influx of "big money" is providing liquidity to the startup market, ensuring resources for new rounds and supporting growth in promising company valuations. The return of mega funds and large institutional investors not only intensifies competition for the best deals but also instills confidence in the sector regarding ongoing capital inflows.
Record Investments in AI and New Wave of "Unicorns"
The artificial intelligence sector remains the key driver of the current venture boom, demonstrating record levels of funding. Investors are eager to position themselves among the leaders in the AI sector, directing colossal amounts of capital toward the most promising projects. For instance, OpenAI raised approximately $40 billion in investments in 2025 (valuing the company at around $800 billion) and is reportedly discussing a new round of up to $100 billion — sums previously unthinkable for a startup. Another AI developer, Anthropic, is negotiating to raise up to $20 billion at an estimated valuation of about $350 billion. Notably, venture investments are flowing not only into end-user AI applications but also into infrastructure for them. The market is ready to finance even the "shovels and pickaxes" for the new AI ecosystem — rumors suggest that one data storage startup is negotiating a multibillion-dollar round at a very high valuation. The current investment boom is spawning a new wave of "unicorns" — companies valued over $1 billion. Although experts warn of overheating risks, investor appetite for AI startups remains strong.
IPO Market Gaining Momentum: Window of Opportunities for Exits
The global market for initial public offerings (IPOs) is beginning to awaken after a period of dormancy. The year 2025 proved fruitful: in the U.S., 23 companies with valuations exceeding $1 billion went public (up from only 9 debuts in 2024), with a total market capitalization for these IPOs exceeding $125 billion—more than double that of the previous year. In Asia, Hong Kong has initiated a new wave of listings, with several major tech companies attracting billions on the exchange. In the U.S., for instance, fintech unicorn Chime gained approximately 30% on its first day of trading post-IPO. The revival of IPO market activity is crucial for the venture ecosystem: successful public exits allow funds to realize profits and redirect freed-up capital into new projects. Experts expect that the IPO momentum will continue into 2026. Profitable companies capable of demonstrating growth potential through AI stand a particularly good chance of successful listings. Among potential IPO candidates are both large fintech players and outstanding AI companies. If macro conditions remain favorable, 2026 could usher in a new wave of high-profile tech IPOs.
Diversification of Investments: Not Just AI
Venture investments are now encompassing an increasingly broader range of industries and are no longer limited to just the AI direction. Following the downturn of 2022-2023, fintech is reviving, with large funding rounds occurring not only in the U.S. but also in Europe and emerging markets. Global investment in fintech has risen by approximately 27% year-over-year, returning to pre-COVID levels. Simultaneously, there is escalating interest in climate and "green" technologies, as well as agri-tech—these segments are attracting record investments in the wake of the sustainable development trend. In biotechnology, there is again a capital influx amid the emergence of new promising developments following the downturn. A notable upswing is evident in security and defense projects—investors are actively financing defense technologies in light of increased attention to geopolitical and cybersecurity issues (in 2025, approximately $8.5 billion was invested in defense-tech, more than double that of the previous year). A partial recovery of confidence in the cryptocurrency market has allowed some blockchain startups to once again attract funding. The expanded industry focus makes the startup ecosystem more resilient and reduces the risks of overheating in individual segments.
Consolidation and M&A Deals: Enlarging Players
High startup valuations and intense market competition are driving the industry toward consolidation. Major mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are re-emerging, reshaping the competitive landscape. For instance, Google has agreed to acquire Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz for approximately $32 billion—a record sum for the Israeli tech sector and one of the largest venture deals in history. These mega-deals demonstrate the desire of tech giants to acquire key technologies and talent. Overall, the M&A activity reflects market maturation. Mature startups are either merging with each other or becoming targets for acquisition by large corporations, while venture funds are finally getting opportunities for long-awaited profitable exits. The revival of the IPO market further stimulates this process—successful public exits set valuation benchmarks and encourage strategic investors to more boldly acquire promising teams.
Russia and CIS: Local Initiatives Amid Global Trends
Despite external constraints, new measures are being taken in Russia and neighboring countries to develop the startup ecosystem. In 2025-2026, several new venture funds with a total size of around 10-15 billion rubles have been announced, aimed at supporting early-stage projects. The Russian Venture Company has lowered its revenue threshold and is prepared to invest up to 35 million rubles at the earliest stages, filling the shortage of "seed" capital. Some local startups have already secured hundreds of millions of rubles from Russian investors, and authorities have once again allowed foreign funds to invest in local tech companies (gradually rekindling foreign capital interest). While venture investment volumes in the region are modest compared to global standards, they are steadily growing. Large companies are also engaging in innovation—for instance, Rosselkhozbank has launched its own venture studio to pilot agri- and fintech startups. Such initiatives are expected to give new momentum to the local market and integrate it into global trends.
Overall, the venture market enters 2026 with cautious optimism. Capital is returning to innovation, but investors are particularly attentive to quality and sustainable growth.
