WIPO: AI absorbs 53% of global VC as deal count declines
Global venture capital investment rose 28% to $510 billion in 2025, but the number of deals fell for a fourth consecutive year, according to WIPO's Global Innovation Index 2026.
WIPO released its Global Innovation Index 2026 on September 29, reporting that global venture capital investment reached $510 billion in 2025, up 28% year over year, according to platum.kr.
Deal count fell 1.4% in 2025 to about 43,500 deals, the fourth consecutive annual decline. The report also said AI's share of total VC investment rose from about 27% in late 2022 to 53% in 2025.
In the first half of 2026, AI accounted for 77% of VC investment value but only 36% of deal count. Mega-rounds for OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI accounted for nearly 43% of total global VC investment during that period. First-half 2026 VC investment reached about $560 billion, already exceeding the full-year 2025 total, while deal count stayed around 22,000.
86% of AI-related VC investment in the first half of 2026 went to North America. Asia's share of total VC investment fell from about 30% in 2023 to 13% in 2025.
WIPO also reported that R&D spending by major global R&D companies hit a record $1.5 trillion in 2025, up 5.8% in real terms. Deep science startups founded since 2000 number more than 30,000, representing 16% of all VC-backed startups in 2025, with combined valuation up 23% year over year to $7.6 trillion.
Quick answers
What was global VC investment in 2025?
Global VC investment reached $510 billion in 2025, up 28% year over year, according to WIPO's Global Innovation Index 2026.
How much of VC investment went to AI in 2025?
AI accounted for 53% of total VC investment value in 2025, up from about 27% in late 2022.
Did VC deal count rise or fall in 2025?
VC deal count fell 1.4% in 2025 to about 43,500 deals, the fourth consecutive annual decline.