Fresh Startup and Venture Capital News as of October 24, 2025: Record Deals, AI Rounds, IPO Growth, Climate Technologies, Defense Startups, and Global Market Trends.
By the end of October 2025, the global venture capital market is demonstrating a robust recovery after several years of decline. Investors worldwide are once again actively financing technology startups—record deals are being made, and plans for companies to go public (IPOs) are back in focus. Major players are returning to the scene with significant investments, while governments across various countries are intensifying support for innovation. As a result, private capital is flowing back into the startup ecosystem, providing resources for a new growth spurt. According to industry analysts, the total volume of venture investments worldwide increased by almost 40% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025—a clear sign of the resurgent appetite for risk.
Growth in venture activity is being observed across all regions. The U.S. continues to lead (especially in the artificial intelligence segment), while investments in startups have doubled in the Middle East compared to last year, and Germany has overtaken the UK in the number of venture deals for the first time in Europe. In Asia, relative decline persists in China amid regulatory uncertainty, while India, Southeast Asia, and Gulf countries are attracting record capital. The investment boom is reaching new heights: on the wave of general growth, tech hubs are forming in Africa and Latin America (for example, Africa recently saw its largest investment of approximately $100 million in the electric mobility sector). Startup ecosystems in Russia and the CIS are also striving to keep pace despite external constraints. A global venture boom in early-stage ventures is taking shape, although investors continue to act selectively and cautiously.
Below are the key events and trends shaping the venture capital agenda as of October 24, 2025:
- The return of mega-funds and large investors. Leading venture funds are attracting unprecedented amounts of capital and sharply increasing investments, filling the market with liquidity and amplifying the appetite for risk.
- Record rounds in the AI sector and a new wave of "unicorns." Unprecedented investment sizes are inflating startup valuations to unseen heights, particularly in the artificial intelligence segment.
- Revival of the IPO market. Successful public listings of technology companies and new IPO applications confirm that the long-awaited “window” for exits has reopened.
- A boom in investments in defense technology. The geopolitical situation is stimulating increased interest in startups within the defense and security sectors, bringing them to the forefront of the venture agenda.
- Diversification of industry focus. Venture capital is directed not only into AI but also into fintech, climate projects, biotechnology, and even crypto startups.
- Local focus: Russia and the CIS. Despite constraints, new funds and initiatives to develop local startup ecosystems are being launched in the region, attracting investor attention.
The Return of Mega-Funds: Big Money Back in the Market
The largest investment players are returning to the venture scene, marking a renewed surge in the appetite for risk. For instance, SoftBank is launching a new Vision Fund with a volume of approximately $40 billion to invest in cutting-edge technologies, while Andreessen Horowitz is forming funds totaling around $10 billion, focused on AI and adjacent areas. Sovereign funds from Gulf countries are also actively injecting billions of dollars into technology initiatives in the Middle East, creating their own tech hubs. Simultaneously, dozens of new venture funds are being established worldwide, attracting significant institutional capital for investments in high-tech sectors.
The return of such “big money” from renowned Silicon Valley funds and global investors not only intensifies competition for the best deals but also instills confidence in the sector regarding a continued influx of capital. The American venture sector has accumulated record reserves of uninvested capital (“dry powder”)—hundreds of billions of dollars are ready to be deployed as confidence returns to the market. The influx of large funds fills the startup market with liquidity, providing resources for new funding rounds and supporting growth in valuations of promising companies.
Record Investment in AI and a New Wave of Unicorns
The artificial intelligence sector is the main driver of the current venture rise, showcasing unprecedented levels of funding. Investors worldwide are eager to position themselves among leaders in the AI sector, directing colossal amounts of money into the most promising projects. For example, Elon Musk's new project xAI has attracted approximately $10 billion, while AI model developer OpenAI secured around $8-9 billion in funding with a company valuation of approximately $300 billion. This current investment frenzy has spawned a flurry of new “unicorns”—startups valued at over $1 billion.
AI startups are reaching “unicorn” status at record speed, although some experts warn of overheating due to potential overvaluation. Nevertheless, the fear of missing out on a new technological revolution supports the inflow of capital, and the appetite for AI projects remains extraordinarily high—artificial intelligence continues to be the primary magnet for venture investments.
The IPO Market Comes Alive: An Opportunity Window for Exits
The global market for initial public offerings (IPOs) is emerging from its lull and is gaining momentum once again. In Asia, Hong Kong has kicked off a new wave of IPOs, with several major tech companies going public in recent weeks (for instance, Chinese company CATL raised about $5 billion), indicating a return of investor interest.
The situation is also improving in the U.S. and Europe. American fintech “unicorn” Chime recently debuted on the stock market—its market capitalization increased by about 30% on the first day of trading. Soon after, design platform Figma conducted an IPO, raising approximately $1.2 billion with a valuation of around $15-20 billion; its shares also rose steadily in the initial trading days. In the second half of 2025, other well-known startups, including payment service Stripe, are preparing to go public.
Even the crypto industry is attempting to leverage the revival: fintech company Circle successfully went public over the summer, and cryptocurrency exchange Bullish has filed for a listing in the U.S. with a target valuation of about $4 billion. The resurgence of activity in the IPO market is crucial for the venture ecosystem: successful public exits allow funds to realize profitable exits and redirect freed-up capital into new projects.
Defense Technology Boom: A New Priority for the Venture Market
Amid geopolitical tensions, the niche for defense technologies is experiencing explosive growth. Venture investors are actively funding startups related to defense and security, and investments in this sector in 2025 have significantly increased, nearing record levels of previous years. New “disrupters” are challenging traditional defense giants—a vivid example is startup Anduril, valued at approximately $30 billion. Major venture funds are also directing significant resources towards national security projects, affirming the new priority of the sector.
Diversification of Investments: Not Just AI
In 2025, venture investments are covering an increasingly broad spectrum of industries and are no longer confined to just artificial intelligence. Following last year's downturn, fintech is making a comeback: large funding rounds are occurring not only in the U.S. but also in Europe and emerging markets, fueling the growth of new financial services. Simultaneously, interest in climate technologies, “green” energy, and agtech is intensifying—these sectors are attracting record investments on the wave of the global trend toward sustainable development. The appetite for biotechnology is also returning: the emergence of breakthrough medical developments is again attracting capital as the sector emerges from a period of valuation declines. A partial recovery of confidence in the cryptocurrency market has allowed some blockchain startups to secure funding once more. Thus, the expansion of industry focus makes the startup ecosystem more resilient and reduces the risk of overheating in individual segments.
Russia and the CIS: Local Initiatives Amid Global Trends
Despite external challenges, there is a resurgence of startup activity in Russia and neighboring countries. Several new venture funds with a total volume of approximately 10-12 billion rubles have been announced, aiming to support technology projects, and several local startups have already attracted hundreds of millions of rubles in investments. Additionally, foreign investments in local projects have been permitted again, gradually bringing back foreign capital. Although the volumes of venture investments in the region are still modest compared to global levels, they are steadily increasing. Some companies are contemplating taking their tech divisions public should market conditions improve—for instance, VK Tech has announced the possibility of an IPO in the foreseeable future. New government support measures and corporate initiatives are designed to provide additional momentum to the local startup ecosystem and integrate it into global trends.
Cautious Optimism and Quality Growth
Overall, the venture market is closing October 2025 on a positive note. Successful IPOs and significant deals confirm the end of a prolonged downturn, yet investors continue to act selectively and focus on startups with sustainable business models. The new influx of capital is accompanied by diversification and enhanced risk management, resulting in a transition to a phase of more qualitative, balanced growth for the market.
