Crunchbase - 6 Charts That Show The Big AI Funding Trends Of 2025
Summary
Crunchbase data reveals AI captured nearly 50% of global startup funding in 2025, with $202.3 billion invested. Foundation model companies like OpenAI and Anthropic attracted the largest investments.
Review
The source document provides a comprehensive overview of AI startup funding trends in 2025, highlighting the sector's unprecedented growth and concentration of capital. AI funding surged to $202.3 billion, representing a 75% year-over-year increase, with foundation model companies attracting 40% of total investment. OpenAI and Anthropic emerged as the most valuable private companies, collectively representing nearly 10% of the Crunchbase Unicorn Board's value.
The analysis reveals significant geographical and structural shifts in venture capital, with the US (particularly the San Francisco Bay Area) dominating AI investments, capturing 79% of funding. Private equity and alternative investors played a crucial role, with SoftBank leading the largest deal of $40 billion into OpenAI. The funding landscape shows a trend of concentration, with 58% of AI investments in megarounds of $500 million or more, signaling a potential winner-takes-most dynamic in the AI startup ecosystem.
Key Points
- AI captured nearly 50% of global startup funding in 2025
- Foundation model companies raised $80 billion, representing 40% of AI funding
- US-based companies, especially in San Francisco, dominated AI investments
- Large private equity deals and megarounds concentrated funding in top AI startups