MoneyMarch 20, 2026via TechCrunch Venture
AI startups are eating the venture industry and the returns, so far, are good
Why it matters
AI startups now dominate venture funding with 41% market share, signaling a fundamental shift in where smart money is betting and what returns early investors are seeing.
Key signals
- AI startups captured 41% of venture funding
- $128 billion total venture dollars raised on Carta
- Record-high annual share for AI startups
- Returns are tracking positive so far
The hook
$52B. That's how much AI startups raised out of $128B total VC dollars last year.
AI startups accounted for 41% of the $128 billion in venture dollars raised by companies on Carta last year — a record-high annual share.