AI funding hits record-high of $23.6bn in Q2

AI start-ups are on track for another record year, driven by strong early investment and major funding deals. Mega deals, such as Elon Musk’s xAI aiming for $10 billion and Figure AI seeking $1.5 billion, have sparked investor interest and put more pressure on start-ups to develop real-world AI solutions.  This perfect storm of events has led to the strongest start to the year and a record-breaking quarterly total.

According to data presented by Stocklytics.com, VC funding into AI start-ups skyrocketed by 71% year-over-year and hit a record $23.6 billion in Q2.

In Q2 alone, AI start-ups raised nearly 70% of the total annual funding seen in 2022 and 2023.

Despite high interest rates, economic slowdown, stricter regulations on big tech and AI, Trump’s tariff policies, and global trade tensions, AI continues to outperform nearly every other area of the tech sector, both in market forecast and VC investments.

The Crunchbase data show that AI start-ups raised $14.1 billion in Q1, 23% more than the amount raised in the same period a year ago. Also, AI start-ups made nearly 58% of global VC investments in the first quarter, doubling their share year-over-year and reflecting growing investor enthusiasm. That momentum carried over into Q2, pushing the quarterly funding total to an all-time high.

Between April and June, VC investors poured another $23.6 billion into the market, representing a 71% increase from Q2 2024 and the highest quarterly total. To put that figure into perspective, in Q2 alone, AI start-ups raised nearly 70% of the total annual funding seen in 2022 and 2023, when they raised $38 billion and $35 billion, respectively. Even if VC investments slow down, the current trend shows 2025 could still set a new record, outperforming 2024, the best year for AI start-up funding so far, which saw $64.4 billion in VC investments.

Cumulative VC Funding Climbs to $285 Billion

Comparing AI start-up funding to that of other most-funded sectors in 2025 reveals just how strong this trend is. In comparison, AI start-ups have raised twice more money than fintech start-ups ($15.8 billion), 70% more than IT start-ups ($21.9 billion), and nearly three times more than biotech companies ($13.8 billion)

With over $37 billion of fresh capital poured into the market over the past five months, the cumulative funding amount in the AI start-up sector has jumped over $285 billion, and around 80% of that value, or $244 billion, was raised in the past five years. Statistics show that U.S. start-ups have raised 65% of that money, with a total of $187 billion in funding. Asiana and European companies follow with $49 billion and $36 billion in cumulative funding, respectively.