8 AI Unicorns Transforming Venture Capital |
These startups raised around $1 billion—and in some cases as much as $40 billion—in funding last year.
BY CHLOE AIELLO, REPORTER @CHLOBO_ILO
Illustration: Inc.; Photo: Getty Images
The amount of capital that flowed into AI startups in 2025 was nothing short of astonishing. Of the $512.6 billion venture capital firms deployed in the U.S. last year, more than half went to AI companies, according to PitchBook estimates.
So which AI companies brought in the most cash? A whopping 55 startups raised $100 million or more, TechCrunch reported—up from the 49 that closed nine-figure funding rounds the previous year—and among those 55, nearly 10 raised $1 billion or more. Here are the eight AI unicorns from that group that raised the most capital in 2025.
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