Global startup funding surged to a record $510 billion in the first half of 2026 as artificial intelligence investments accelerate across sectors. Major rounds are closing in autonomous defense systems, AI trading, embodied robotics, and coding tools, signaling intense investor appetite for AI-driven companies.
·Quantum Systems, a German drone maker, raised $1.2 billion for autonomous defense applications.
·An embodied AI startup completed Series C funding at a $2.94 billion valuation.
·EquiLibre, an AI stock trading startup, raised funding at a $500 million-plus valuation.
·Baz, a coding AI startup from Bridgecrew founder Guy Eisenkot, secured $9 million as competition intensifies.
·AI boom is driving record exit activity alongside the funding surge.
drawn from Crunchbase News, CNBC, Reuters, TribLIVE.com · updated 20h ago