AI Continues to Power a Global Rebound in Startup Funding
United States remained the dominant player in global venture capital, attracting $60 billion.
• Total funding hit $97 billion in Q3 2025, up 38% year over year and slightly above $92 billion in Q2.
• Each of the last four quarters exceeded $90 billion, levels not seen since 2022.
• AI startups raised $45.1 billion in Q3, accounting for 46% of total global funding.
AI continues to shape the global startup funding landscape in 2025, injecting fresh energy into what had been a cooling market.
In the first and second quarters of the year, artificial intelligence remained the defining thread running through venture capital activity. It appeared in nearly every major deal across sectors and regions, turning what was once hype into tangible capital and visibly driving recovery across funding stages. A renewed wave of IPOs and high-profile acquisitions added further momentum.
That strength carried into the third quarter. Crunchbase data shows global venture funding climbed to $97 billion, marking a 38% year-over-year increase from $70 billion in Q3 2024 and a modest rise from $92 billion in the previous quarter. Notably, the past four consecutive quarters have seen global startup funding exceed $90 billion, driven largely by AI-related megarounds, a level not reached since 2022.
Geographically, the United States remained the dominant player in global venture capital, attracting $60 billion, or nearly two-thirds of total funding in Q3.
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