"Nearly 20 U.S.-based AI startups have raised mega rounds of $100 million or more in 2026 - and it's been less than two months. If the first few weeks of 2026 are any indicator, the AI startup market is in for another year of monster funding rounds at eye-watering valuations. U.S. AI startups raised more than $76 billion through megarounds in 2025, per TechCrunch's count."
"PaleBlueDot AI, a compute platform, raised a $150 million Series B round that valued the startup at $1 billion. The round was announced on January 28 and was led by B Capital. Elon Musk's xAI started the new year with a bang. The AI research lab announced a $20 billion Series E round on January 6. Valor Equity Partners, Fidelity, and the Qatar Investment Authority participated in the round, among others. The company was acquired by Musk's SpaceX a few weeks later."
Nearly 20 U.S.-based AI startups raised $100 million or more within the first two months of 2026. The early surge follows $76 billion raised through megarounds by U.S. AI startups in 2025. Several companies secured nine-figure funding at high valuations, including PaleBlueDot AI, which raised $150 million in a Series B that valued it at $1 billion. xAI announced a $20 billion Series E and was subsequently acquired by SpaceX. Major institutional investors participated in these rounds. Continued large-scale investment activity in AI startups will determine whether the 2026 funding momentum matches or exceeds 2025 levels.
Read at TechCrunch
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