MoneyThe story, in brief
Sector Snapshot: Venture Funding To Foundational AI Startups In Q1 Was Double All Of 2025
$178B. That's what foundational AI startups raised in just Q1 — double all of 2025.
The KeyNews take
Why it matters
Foundational AI funding is accelerating at unprecedented rates, with Q1 2026 showing 466.9% growth over 2024, signaling massive capital concentration in the AI infrastructure layer that will determine market winners.
The key facts
6 to know$178 billion raised by foundational AI startups in Q1 2026
24 deals completed in Q1 2026
$88.9 billion raised across 66 deals in all of 2025
100% increase from 2025 to Q1 2026
466.9% increase compared to $31.4 billion raised in 2024
52 deals completed in 2024
Go to the source
Crunchbase Newsnews.crunchbase.com
Publisher excerpt: As of March 31, foundational AI startups had raised $178 billion across 24 deals, compared with $88.9 billion across 66 deals in all of 2025 in a 100% increase. That’s also significantly higher — 466.9% higher to be exact — than the $31.4 billion raised across 52 deals in 2024.