Startup and Venture Capital News for February 13, 2026: Major AI Rounds, Trust Layer Growth, Digital Health, Embodied AI, and Strategic Signals for Global Venture Funds.
Executive Summary: The Venture Market Doubles Down on AI Infrastructure
Startup and venture capital news for February 13, 2026, confirms a structural shift in the global venture capital market. Investors are increasingly prioritizing infrastructure, trust layers, and scalable business models within digital health, enterprise SaaS, and embodied AI sectors, moving away from experimental AI products. Venture funds and strategic investors are strengthening their positions in companies that have already demonstrated commercial viability and exhibit sustainable unit economics.
Key topics of the day include:
- the rise of significant funding rounds in AI and digital health;
- the strengthening of the confidential AI and governance segment;
- increased activity from Europe and Asia in deeptech and robotics;
- competition for mega-rounds targeting quality teams.
US: Major Rounds in Digital Health and Enterprise AI
The North American venture capital market remains a driver of global capital flow. Startups operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and regulated industries are in the spotlight.
In the digital health segment, a large Series D round has been recorded for a telepsychiatry company focused on an insurance model. The capital raised exceeds CAD 200 million, emphasizing investor interest in AI tools for optimizing clinical processes, triage, and documentation automation. For venture investors, this is a signal that healthcare is becoming one of the most resilient verticals for scaling AI startups.
Concurrently, the confidential AI space — solutions that ensure the safe operation of models with sensitive corporate data — is also evolving. A Series B round in this segment shows that trust layers and computational oversight are becoming essential components of the enterprise stack.
Europe: Governance, Data Sovereignty, and Corporate AI Agents
The European startup market is demonstrating increased activity in corporate AI agents and knowledge management. Venture investments are concentrating on solutions that:
- ensure compliance with regulatory requirements;
- integrate into the infrastructure of large companies;
- support data sovereignty and local data storage.
A Series A round in a German enterprise AI startup confirms the strategy of funds: Europe is betting on deeply integrated B2B solutions rather than consumer-facing AI applications. For venture funds, this presents an opportunity to build portfolios that align with future compliance requirements and increasing regulation.
Asia: Embodied AI and Robotics as a New Growth Center
The Asian startup market is strengthening its positions in the embodied AI and robotics segments. A Series B round for a Chinese intelligent robotics startup has surpassed the equivalent of CAD 140 million. Investors are betting on the synergy between software and hardware infrastructure.
A notable feature of the region is the concentration of capital in hardware-oriented companies. Venture investments are being directed towards projects where artificial intelligence is integrated into production chains, logistics, and industrial automation.
Mega-Rounds and Competition for Infrastructure AI Companies
February 2026 has been marked by an increase in mega-rounds for AI infrastructure. Companies involved in inference, computing platforms, and specialized chips are attracting hundreds of millions of dollars.
Current dynamics indicate three trends:
- a return of significant private capital in later stages;
- an increase in valuations amid a limited number of quality assets;
- a convergence of venture and private equity capital in the AI segment.
For funds, this means heightened competition and the necessity for early entry into promising startups.
Deal Structure: Discipline in Early Stages
Despite the rise of large rounds, early-stage investments remain under pressure. Seed and Series A rounds require evidence of:
- real revenue or validated demand;
- controlled computation expenses;
- a clear scaling strategy.
Venture investors are intensifying due diligence concerning unit economics and costs tied to AI infrastructure. Startups that cannot demonstrate a pathway to profitability face tougher conditions.
Geographical Portfolio Diversification
The global venture capital market in 2026 is shaping up as a multipolar system. The US continues to lead in volume, while Europe is solidifying its position in B2B and deeptech, and Asia is emerging in robotics and hardware solutions.
For international funds, the GEO-diversification strategy is becoming key. An optimal portfolio includes:
- AI infrastructure in the US;
- enterprise governance solutions in Europe;
- embodied AI and hardware startups in Asia.
Venture Capital Market Risks in 2026
Despite the uptick in venture investments, systemic risks persist:
- overheating valuations in the AI sector;
- dependence on the cost of computing resources;
- regulatory constraints on cross-border investments.
Funds must account for potential volatility in public markets, which directly impacts exit strategies.
Outlook: AI as the Core Infrastructure of the Venture Market
Startup and venture capital news for February 13, 2026, confirms that artificial intelligence is transitioning from an experimental technology to a foundational infrastructure for business. The venture market is entering a rationalization phase — capital is being directed toward companies capable of scaling in regulated and capital-intensive sectors.
In the coming months, we anticipate:
- further increases in investment in trust layers and data security;
- strengthening positions in digital health;
- consolidation within infrastructure AI companies.
