AI startups captured 81% of global venture capital in the first quarter of 2026, approximately $242 billion out of a record $297 billion deployed worldwide. OpenAI alone raised $122 billion in a single funding round during this period, accounting for over 40% of quarterly global deployment. Mega-rounds exceeding $100 million comprised roughly 73% of total AI deal value in 2025. This exceptional concentration is starving non-AI sectors, particularly crypto, of capital, as crypto-focused funds now compete for just 19% of the global venture capital pie.
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