Funding Hits

• European venture capital funding rebounded by 27% to €44.1 billion in H1 2026, though the overall number of deals plummeted to a six-year low. • Artificial intelligence dominated the landscape, absorbing 60.3% of all VC deal value, while seed-stage deal counts dropped by 44% in Q1. • The UK led the region with €18.7 billion across 423 deals, significantly outpacing Germany (€6.3 billion) and France (€6.0 billion).

• AI startup funding reached $510 billion in the first half of 2026, already surpassing the total investment recorded for the entire year of 2025. • The investment surge is primarily driven by a focus on critical infrastructure, semiconductor chips, robotics, and enterprise-level AI solutions. • This boom is fueled by growing commercial demand as businesses integrate AI tools into sectors such as healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, and manufacturing.

• Chinese AI startup Psibot is raising nearly $100 million in a new funding round, bringing its company valuation to $1.48 billion. • The funding surge reflects a broader trend of investors capitalizing on the rapid growth and high interest in the artificial intelligence sector within China. • This valuation marks a significant milestone for Psibot, positioning it as a major player among the country's emerging AI unicorns.