Across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa, startups secured billions in funding this December. Explore the top deals driving growth in AI, fintech, healthcare, robotics, and sustainable energy as we’re moving towards 2026.
In 2025, AI startups dominated global venture funding, pulling in around $202 billion, which is roughly half of all startup investment for the year, which totaled about $405 billion. Big rounds for companies like OpenAI and Anthropic drove much of this surge, but smaller AI-powered startups focused on niche use cases also stayed strong as investor interest in AI continued this year.
Fintech also saw solid investment, with tens of billions raised in the first half of the year (~$44.7 billion), though its overall slice of global funding remained in the low double digits, fueled by deals in payments, wealthtech, embedded finance, and segments where financial services intersected with AI-powered tools.
Here are some notable investment rounds that occurred this December.
Databricks (USA) — ~$4B; Series L
Databricks, a U.S.-based enterprise AI and data analytics platform, raised approximately $4 billion in Series L financing.
Lead investors: Insight Partners, Fidelity, J.P. Morgan, and other institutional investors.
Why notable: One of the largest funding rounds globally in December 2025, reflecting immense demand for AI-driven enterprise data solutions.
Market impact: Strengthens Databricks’ market leadership in AI and big data analytics, supporting large-scale adoption in enterprises worldwide.
Use of funds: Product innovation, AI research expansion, international growth, and strategic acquisitions.
Cyera (USA) — ~$400M; Growth / Late-stage
Cyera, a U.S.-based AI-enabled cybersecurity platform, raised around $400 million in late-stage financing.
Lead investors: Blackstone, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Tiger Global.
Why notable: Highlights strong investor confidence in AI-driven security solutions amid increasing global cyber threats.
Market impact: Enables enterprises to deploy advanced cybersecurity tools, enhancing data protection at scale.
Use of funds: Platform development, market expansion, and global customer acquisition.
Radiant (USA) — ~$300M; Series D
Radiant, a U.S.-based nuclear microreactor developer, raised $300 million in Series D funding.
Lead investors: Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Temasek, Energy Innovation Fund.
Why notable: Reinforces investment momentum in next-generation clean energy technologies.
Market impact: Accelerates development of small modular reactors for industrial and municipal energy supply.
Use of funds: Research and development, regulatory approvals, and prototype deployment.
Tebra (USA) — ~$250M; Series E
Tebra, a U.S.-based healthcare software platform, raised approximately $250 million in Series E financing.
Lead investors: Tiger Global, Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst.
Why notable: Signals continued investor interest in digitizing healthcare operations and improving patient experience.
Market impact: Expands Tebra’s reach to healthcare providers, optimizing clinical workflows and patient engagement.
Use of funds: Product development, geographic expansion, and scaling of cloud healthcare solutions.
Imprint (USA) — ~$150M; Series D
Imprint, a U.S.-based fintech startup providing credit solutions, raised $150 million in Series D financing.
Lead investors: Accel, Coatue, Founders Fund.
Why notable: Represents strong growth in embedded finance and alternative credit solutions.
Market impact: Enables wider access to credit products for underserved segments, improving financial inclusion.
Use of funds: Product innovation, regulatory compliance, and market expansion.
HawkEye 360 (USA) — ~$150M; Growth Round
HawkEye 360, a U.S.-based satellite intelligence and analytics platform, raised approximately $150 million in growth financing.
Lead investors: Lux Capital, Space Capital, New Enterprise Associates.
Why notable: Strengthens position in geospatial intelligence and defense analytics.
Market impact: Enhances global data collection capabilities for commercial and government clients.
Use of funds: Satellite deployment, AI analytics development, and international market expansion.
Chai Discovery (USA) — ~$130M; Series C
Chai Discovery, a U.S.-based AI-driven biotech company, raised around $130 million in Series C funding.
Lead investors: Andreessen Horowitz, Flagship Pioneering, Polaris Partners.
Why notable: Demonstrates growing investor interest in AI-powered drug discovery.
Market impact: Accelerates development of new therapeutics using AI modeling and prediction.
Use of funds: Clinical research, AI infrastructure, and team expansion.
Mythic (USA) — ~$125M; Series D
Mythic, a U.S.-based AI microprocessor startup, raised $125 million in Series D financing.
Lead investors: SoftBank Vision Fund, Intel Capital, Lux Capital.
Why notable: Supports growth in AI hardware for edge devices, critical for autonomous systems and robotics.
Market impact: Expands adoption of energy-efficient AI processing across multiple industries.
Use of funds: Manufacturing scale-up, R&D, and global distribution.
Generative Bionics (Italy) — ~$81M; Growth Round
Generative Bionics, an Italian humanoid robotics startup, raised ~$81 million with backing from Tether and other investors.
Lead investors: CDP Venture Capital AI fund, AMD Ventures, Duferco, Eni Next, RoboIT, Tether.
Why notable: Major European deep-tech robotics investment, combining AI and physical humanoid robots.
Market impact: Positions Italy as a key hub for industrial and service robotics innovation.
Use of funds: Robotics R&D, production facility setup, and industrial deployment in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail.
Creditas (Brazil) — $108M; Series G
Creditas, a São Paulo‑based full‑stack fintech, raised $108 million in Series G financing, which started late November and was finalized in December, supporting its acquisition of Andbank Brasil and strengthening financial infrastructure in the region.
Lead investors: Andbank and other institutional backers.
Why notable: One of the largest December funding rounds in Latin America, signaling sustained investor confidence in fintech ecosystems.
Market impact: Enables expansion of credit, insurance, and investment products across Brazil.
Use of funds: Scaling product offerings and integrating acquired operations.
Fuse Energy (UK) — ~$70M; Growth Round
Fuse Energy, a UK-based energy tech company, raised $70 million to scale its decentralized energy network.
Lead investors: Balderton Capital, Lowercarbon Capital.
Why notable: Brings Fuse Energy valuation to $5 billion, highlighting growth in decentralized energy infrastructure.
Market impact: Supports international expansion and clean energy adoption.
Use of funds: Network expansion, technology scaling, and operational growth.
Sun King (Kenya) — $40M; Equity Growth Round
Sun King, an African off-grid solar provider, raised $40 million from Lightrock in mid-December 2025.
Lead investors: Lightrock.
Why notable: Supports regional expansion in off-grid solar solutions.
Market impact: Expands access to clean energy for households and businesses across Africa.
Use of funds: Expansion of distribution network, technology deployment, and market growth.
I-care (Belgium) — €20M / ~$23.4M; Internal Round + Refinancing
I-care, a Belgian health-tech unicorn (~€1 B valuation), raised €20 million to support operations.
Lead investors: Existing shareholders and internal capital.
Why notable: Consolidates unicorn status; reflects ongoing investor confidence in European health-tech scale-ups.
Market impact: Expands access to healthcare services and digital health solutions in Europe.
Use of funds: Product development, market expansion, and refinancing.
Reface (Ukraine) — €15.2M / ~$17.8M; Non-Dilutive Funding
Reface, a Ukrainian AI startup focused on media and personalization, raised €15.2 million for user acquisition.
Lead investors: PvX Partners.
Why notable: Non-dilutive financing supports aggressive user growth without equity dilution.
Market impact: Enables broader adoption of AI-driven media personalization.
Use of funds: Customer acquisition and product scaling.
GravityLabs (Korea) — $17M; Series A
GravityLabs, a Korean AI wellness platform, raised $17 million in Series A funding.
Lead investors: Korea Investment Partners, Atinum Investment.
Why notable: Highlights continued investor interest in AI-powered health and wellness solutions.
Market impact: Expands AI-driven health diagnostics and wellness tools to more consumers.
Use of funds: Product development, technology enhancement, and market expansion.
Liom (Switzerland) — €13.9M / ~$16.3M; Series A Tranche
Liom, a Swiss wearable glucose monitoring startup, raised €13.9 million (~$15–16.3 M) as part of a CHF 38 million Series A.
Lead investors: Swiss-based venture funds and health-tech investors.
Why notable: Advances non-invasive wearable glucose technology for diabetic care.
Market impact: Expands digital health solutions for chronic disease management.
Use of funds: Product development, clinical trials, and market expansion.
Vambe (Chile) — $14M; Series A
Vambe closed a $14 million Series A round to grow its AI‑driven commerce platform across Latin America, including planned launches in Brazil.
Lead investors: Monashees.
Why notable: Reflects regional investor interest in AI‑enhanced platforms beyond fintech, with a focus on e‑commerce execution.
Market impact: Supports expansion into one of the region’s largest tech markets.
Use of funds: Product development and go‑to‑market growth.
PowerUp Money (India) — ~$12M; Growth Round
PowerUp Money, an Indian wealth-tech platform, raised ~$12 million (~₹130 crore) in growth financing.
Lead investors: Peak XV Partners, Accel.
Why notable: Demonstrates ongoing investor confidence in Indian digital wealth management.
Market impact: Expands access to wealth management and investment tools for emerging market customers.
Use of funds: Product development, market expansion, and scaling client acquisition.
Pyxis (Singapore) — ~S$13M (~$10M); Growth Round First Close
Pyxis, a Singapore-based maritime electrification startup, raised S$13 million (~$10 M) in the first close of its growth round.
Lead investors: Regional growth funds and strategic partners.
Why notable: Supports green maritime tech adoption in Asia-Pacific.
Market impact: Accelerates decarbonization of shipping and port operations.
Use of funds: Production scale-up, technology deployment, and market expansion.
