Artificial intelligence companies captured 61% of global venture capital investment in 2025, according to an OECD analysis released in February 2026, marking a major shift in the distribution of startup funding toward the AI sector.
The report estimated that AI startups raised USD 258.7 billion, accounting for 60.4% of the total USD 427.1 billion in global venture capital funding in 2025. This represents a sharp increase from 2022, when AI accounted for roughly 30% of total venture investment worldwide, underscoring how quickly capital allocation has shifted toward artificial intelligence.
“AI has become the dominant force in global startup financing, reshaping investment priorities across regions and sectors.”
A large share of the investment was directed toward AI infrastructure and hosting services, which received USD 109.3 billion in 2025. The OECD said this reflects rising demand for computing power, data centres, and foundational systems required to train and deploy increasingly complex generative AI models at scale.
The United States remained the dominant player in global AI venture capital flows, accounting for 56% of outbound investment, or about USD 124 billion. The United Kingdom followed with 9%, while China accounted for 8%, highlighting the continued concentration of funding in a small number of major technology economies.
The report also pointed to the growing role of large-scale funding rounds, often referred to as “megadeals,” which have driven higher valuations and accelerated growth among late-stage AI startups. In addition, AI companies accounted for 43% of all new unicorns in 2024, a 64% increase from 2023.
According to the OECD, the expansion of the sector has been driven by rapid advances in generative AI, increased corporate participation from major technology firms including Microsoft and Google, and a significant rise in investor engagement with startup founders since 2020.
“The scale of AI investment reflects a structural shift in global venture capital markets, with implications for innovation, competition, and financial stability.”
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The OECD concluded that AI is no longer a niche segment of venture funding but a central driver shaping global startup frameworks, capital flows, and technology development priorities. It also warned that while the growth signals strong innovation momentum, the concentration of capital in a single sector raises questions about market balance and long-term investment diversity.
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