More Money, Fewer Checks: These 3 Charts Show The Divide Behind VC’s Record Funding Year

In 2026, venture capital funding hit nearly $680 billion through Q3, driven by large rounds over $1 billion, while the number of seed and early-stage deals declined significantly, especially in North America. Despite more money flowing into startups, fewer smaller deals are being made, highlighting a concentration of capital in mature companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.