17 US AI Firms Secure $100M+ Funding in 2026 - AI News Today Recency

# 17 US AI Firms Secure $100M+ Funding in 2026

The artificial intelligence investment landscape is reaching unprecedented heights as major US-based AI companies continue to attract substantial capital commitments. With global venture funding posting strong gains and AI capturing the lion's share of investment activity, American startups are positioning themselves at the forefront of the generative AI revolution. The concentration of capital into mega-rounds demonstrates investor confidence in AI's transformative potential across industries.

Record Capital Concentration in AI Mega-Rounds

The funding environment for AI companies has become increasingly concentrated, with mega-rounds exceeding $100 million becoming the dominant trend in venture capital allocation[1][3]. In January 2026 alone, $40.9 billion (74% of all global funding) went to rounds of $100 million or more, with $31.7 billion (57% of all funding) directed specifically to AI-related companies[3].

This concentration reflects a strategic shift among investors who are prioritizing established AI players with proven technology and market traction. The US captured approximately 70% of global venture capital last month, with $38.7 billion invested in American companies[3]. More than a third of global venture funding in January went to a single US-based model company—Elon Musk-led xAI—which secured a $20 billion Series E round[3].

Leading AI Companies and Their Valuations

The most well-funded AI companies in the US have achieved remarkable valuations, reflecting the sector's explosive growth trajectory. OpenAI leads the pack with $64 billion in total funding and a $500 billion valuation, supported by 500 million weekly users[2]. Anthropic follows with $37.7 billion in total funding and a $183 billion valuation, generating $5.5 billion in annual recurring revenue[2].

Additional major players securing substantial capital include xAI at $18 billion in total funding with a $200 billion valuation and 2 billion monthly queries[2], Figure AI at $2.5 billion with a $45 billion valuation focused on robotics, and Perplexity AI at $1.8 billion with a $22 billion valuation and 850 million monthly queries[2]. These valuations underscore investor confidence in the long-term potential of AI infrastructure and applications.

Hyperscaler Capital Expenditure Driving Ecosystem Growth

While venture-backed startups capture headlines, hyperscaler tech companies are committing unprecedented amounts to AI infrastructure, with 2026 capex expected to reach $527 billion[1]. This massive investment from established technology giants like Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon creates a ripple effect throughout the AI ecosystem, benefiting suppliers, infrastructure providers, and complementary service companies[1].

Meta is expected to spend $55 billion on AI capex in 2026, Alphabet plans to double capex to $180 billion, and Amazon guided a 50% increase to $200 billion[4]. These commitments represent a 75% year-over-year growth rate in the third quarter, though analysts project this will moderate to 25% growth by year-end 2026[1]. The magnitude of spending suggests potential upside of as much as $200 billion to current estimates, driven by the strong balance sheets and continued investment appetite of major hyperscalers[1].

Emerging Opportunities Beyond Foundation Models

While foundation model companies dominate funding headlines, significant capital is flowing into AI applications and infrastructure supporting broader adoption[3]. Recent mega-rounds in January included investments in robotics intelligence (Skild AI), autonomous driving (Waabi), drone delivery (Zipline), and AI chip development (Etched.ai), alongside data center infrastructure providers like DayOne[3].

This diversification reflects Goldman Sachs Research's observation that investors are becoming more selective about AI stocks, focusing increasingly on the "next beneficiaries of the ever-expanding AI trade" beyond the initial wave of foundation model companies[1]. Healthcare and biotech sectors are also attracting significant capital, leveraging AI to accelerate drug discovery and precision medicine applications.

Anticipated IPO Activity and Market Outlook

The robust funding environment is setting the stage for significant public market activity in 2026. Likely IPO candidates include Databricks with $4.3B annual recurring revenue and strong profitability, CoreWeave as a GPU cloud provider with $2B+ revenue, and Scale AI with $750M ARR and Pentagon contracts[2]. OpenAI and Anthropic are targeting 2026-2027 IPOs pending structure resolution[2].

AI startups raised over $225 billion in total funding through November 2025, representing approximately 46% of all venture capital activity[2]. This unprecedented concentration of capital into AI reflects fundamental shifts in how investors view technology's future, with SaaS valuation multiples recovering to 8-10x annual recurring revenue levels[2].

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding have AI startups raised in 2025? AI startups raised over $225 billion in total funding through November 2025, representing approximately 46% of all venture capital activity[2]. Q4 2025 alone saw $42 billion deployed across 200+ deals, with 6 rounds exceeding $1 billion[2].

Which US AI companies are most likely to IPO in 2026? The most likely 2026 IPO candidates are Databricks with $4.3B annual recurring revenue, CoreWeave with $2B+ revenue, and Scale AI with $750M ARR and Pentagon contracts[2]. OpenAI and Anthropic are also targeting 2026-2027 IPOs pending structure resolution[2].

What is the expected AI capital expenditure for hyperscalers in 2026? The consensus estimate among Wall Street analysts for hyperscaler AI capital spending in 2026 is now $527 billion, up from $465 billion at the start of third-quarter earnings season[1]. Individual commitments include Meta at $55 billion, Alphabet at $180 billion, and Amazon at $200 billion[4].

Why are investors focusing on mega-rounds over smaller investments? Investors are becoming more selective about AI stocks, prioritizing companies with proven technology, established market traction, and the resources to deploy AI infrastructure at scale[1]. In January 2026, $40.9 billion (74% of all funding) went to rounds of $100 million or more[3].

What sectors beyond foundation models are attracting AI funding? Significant capital is flowing into robotics intelligence, autonomous driving, drone delivery, AI chip development, data center infrastructure, healthcare, biotech, and industrial supply chain applications[3]. These sectors represent the "next beneficiaries of the ever-expanding AI trade" as investors diversify beyond foundation models[1].

Are hyperscalers facing challenges with AI capital expenditure sustainability? While free cash flow generation remains positive on aggregate, hyperscalers are spending so much on AI infrastructure that concerns are emerging about future profitability[4]. Amazon's $200 billion capex commitment for 2026 is expected to result in negative free cash flow for the year, and industry-wide negative free cash flow would signal a major concern for investors[4].