AI BriefingVenture Capital Funding Concentrates on AI Startups
Key point
Over 70% of global VC investment in the first half of 2026 concentrated in the AI sector, marking an all-time high.
Details
According to Crunchbase's 2026 first-half global venture report, investment flowing into startups worldwide reached $510 billion, surpassing the full-year 2025 total ($440 billion). This figure breaks the record set during the low-interest-rate era of 2021.
Key indicators are as follows:
- AI concentration: Over 70% of Q2 VC funding went to AI companies, reaching as high as 80% in Q1.
- Big players: OpenAI and Anthropic secured $217 billion, or 43% of total startup investment for the first half.
- Agent infrastructure: Agent-related fields such as Together AI ($800 million) and Microsoft's AI deployment company ($2.5 billion) are growing the fastest.
- Regional concentration: 88% of AI investment was concentrated in U.S. companies.
The market currently stands at a crossroads between AI bubble concerns and sustained growth, facing variables such as Anthropic's potential IPO and OpenAI's need for additional funding.
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