The year 2025 marked a significant period for startup funding, particularly in the artificial intelligence sector. A total of 15 companies secured venture capital rounds of $2 billion or more, accumulating over $100 billion in financing, according to data from Crunchbase. The majority of these funds flowed into generative AI firms, which dominated the funding landscape.
OpenAI led the way with its record-setting investment of $40 billion from SoftBank in March, the largest venture investment ever recorded. The deal involved SoftBank forming a syndicate of co-investors to raise $10 billion while financing the remaining $30 billion, including $10 billion through debt.
Top Funding Rounds in 2025
The following are the companies that secured the largest funding rounds in descending order:
1. **OpenAI** – $40 billion: The San Francisco-based company announced its monumental investment on March 31, solidifying its position as a leader in the AI field.
2. **Scale AI** – $14.3 billion: In June, Scale AI raised $14.3 billion from Meta, reaching a valuation of $29 billion. As part of the agreement, Scale’s founder, Alexandr Wang, and other employees transitioned to Meta to enhance its AI initiatives.
3. **Anthropic** – $13 billion: This generative AI unicorn secured $13 billion in a Series F funding round in September, achieving a valuation of $183 billion. The round was led by Iconiq Capital, with participation from Fidelity and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
4. **Project Prometheus** – $6.2 billion: Launched with $6.2 billion in funding in November, this startup focuses on applying AI technology to physical tasks. Reports indicate that Jeff Bezos will co-lead the company alongside Vik Bajaj.
5. **xAI** – $5.3 billion: Founded by Elon Musk, xAI raised $5.3 billion in equity funding during the summer, bringing its total financing to over $22 billion since its inception just two and a half years ago.
6. **Databricks** – $4 billion: The San Francisco-headquartered company announced a Series L financing of over $4 billion in December, achieving a valuation of $134 billion and a revenue run-rate exceeding $4.8 billion.
7. **Anthropic** – $3.5 billion: Earlier in March, Anthropic also raised $3.5 billion from Lightspeed Venture Partners, valuing the company at $61.5 billion.
8. **Anduril Industries** – $2.5 billion: The defense technology startup based in Costa Mesa, California, raised $2.5 billion in a Series G round in June, more than doubling its valuation to $30.5 billion.
9. **Anysphere** – $2.3 billion: In November, Anysphere, along with its coding automation platform Cursor, secured $2.3 billion in funding, achieving a valuation of $29.3 billion.
10. **Polymarket, Reflection AI, Safe Superintelligence, Thinking Machines Lab, Binance, Mistral AI** – Each of these companies raised $2 billion in 2025, marking significant milestones in their respective sectors. For instance, Polymarket’s investment came from the Intercontinental Exchange, setting an $8 billion pre-money valuation, while Reflection AI focused on large language model training.
These substantial funding rounds illustrate the accelerating momentum in the AI industry, with significant investments steering innovation and competition. As companies continue to vie for dominance in the rapidly evolving landscape, the impact of these financial commitments will likely shape the future of technology and its applications.
