The Largest Recent Seed Rounds Are All For AI Companies

2026-03-31 · Source: Artificial intelligence - Crunchbase News · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Recent Crunchbase data reveals a significant shift in seed-stage venture capital, with investors concentrating large commitments in AI companies, particularly those operating at the intersection of AI and the physical world. Over the past six months, at least 12 global companies secured seed rounds of $100 million or more. Notable examples include Paris-based Advanced Machine Intelligence, which raised $1.03 billion for AI models learning from real-world sensor data, and San Francisco's Unconventional AI, securing $475 million for energy-efficient silicon circuits. Periodic Labs raised $300 million for AI in materials design, while Chinese startups Lingchu Intelligence and Humanoid Robot Innovation Center also received substantial funding for physical AI. Additionally, AI startups focusing on human interaction, like Merge Labs ($252 million for brain-computer interfaces) and Humans& ($480 million for foundational models centered on people), attracted major investments. This trend indicates a new era of larger, less frequent seed deals, with rounds over $10 million now comprising 9% of deals, up from 2% in 2018.

Key takeaway

For investors evaluating early-stage opportunities, recognize that the AI sector, particularly "physical AI" and human-centric AI, is attracting unprecedented seed-stage capital. Your due diligence should account for the trend of fewer, larger seed deals, and consider the potential for high-ambition projects to iterate with substantial initial funding. Focus on companies demonstrating clear applications at the intersection of AI and real-world systems.

Key insights

Seed funding is increasingly concentrated in AI, especially physical AI, with significantly larger round sizes.

Principles

• Physical AI attracts substantial early-stage investment.
• Seed rounds are growing larger and less frequent.

In practice

• Explore AI applications in physical world interaction.
• Investigate energy-efficient AI hardware development.

Topics

• AI Seed Funding
• Physical AI
• Venture Capital Trends
• Brain-Computer Interfaces
• Foundational Models

Best for: Investor, Entrepreneur, Director of AI/ML

Related on AIssential

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• The $100M+ Round Is Now Just Your Typical Late-Stage Financing — Late-stage startup funding rounds of $100M+ are now commonplace, driven by concentrated capital and rising valuations, especially in AI.
• Physical Intelligence is reportedly in talks to raise $1B, again — Physical Intelligence seeks to create general-purpose AI models for robots, akin to "ChatGPT for robots."
• Funding rounds are getting crowded — Crowded VC funding rounds, especially in AI, are driving up valuations and intensifying competition.
• Funding Trends: AI, Robotics & Europe Lead the Way — AI, robotics, and European startups are leading current venture capital investment trends.
• Deepseek reportedly prioritizes AGI research over quick profits despite billions in funding — Deepseek prioritizes AGI and open-source development over short-term profits, even with significant state-backed funding.

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Artificial intelligence - Crunchbase News.