AI Funding Explodes as 9 Startups Raise $100M+ in 2025

Startups to watch in 2025 Startups to watch in 2025
IMAGEW CREDITS: ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL

The world of artificial intelligence took a giant leap forward last year. In 2024, AI funding in the United States soared to new heights, and it caught the attention of investors everywhere. According to TechCrunch’s count, 49 different AI startups managed to secure capital of $100 million or more in that period. That figure alone shows a remarkable surge in venture interest. Even more impressive, three of these businesses secured more than one “mega-round,” while seven others raised financing of at least $1 billion.

Such large sums hint at the industry’s bright future. AI is no longer just an emerging concept; it is a core driver in healthcare, law, infrastructure, and countless other sectors. With companies sprouting up in every corner, the competition for funds grows fiercer by the day. Yet, plenty of investors remain eager to back the next big thing in artificial intelligence.

Now, as 2025 gets underway, it looks like this upward trend could continue. We’re only a few months into the new year, but the number of U.S.-based AI startups raising over $100 million is already close to double digits. One company has even surpassed the $1 billion mark in a single round. Below is a rundown of the most substantial U.S. AI funding rounds so far this year, complete with the major players and valuations that set the industry abuzz.

March: Anthropic’s Landmark $3.5 Billion Series E

Anthropic kicked off March with a bang, announcing a monumental $3.5 billion Series E raise. This injection of capital pushed the company’s valuation to a jaw-dropping $61.5 billion. The round was led by Lightspeed and included major contributions from Salesforce Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and General Catalyst, among others. Anthropic has gained fame for its work in AI research and large language models. With this fresh funding, it appears set to accelerate its ambitious roadmap, possibly launching new products and exploring ways to refine natural language processing.

This record-breaking round for March underscores the enthusiasm swirling around companies pushing the boundaries in deep learning. By focusing on scalable models, Anthropic hopes to become a leading force in AI, especially for large enterprises looking to automate more processes and glean insights from massive datasets. Observers note that if Anthropic’s results continue to impress, more megadeals could appear on the horizon in 2025.

February’s AI Funding Frenzy

February was a busy month in the AI world, marked by a parade of mega-rounds that promise to shape the sector for years to come. Each startup tackled a different angle of AI, proving that innovation can flourish across many specialized fields.

Together AI: $305 Million Series B

Together AI kicked things off in February by announcing a $305 million Series B round at a $3.3 billion valuation. The round closed on February 20 and was co-led by Prosperity7 and General Catalyst, with Salesforce Ventures, Nvidia, Lux Capital, and others pitching in as well. Together AI focuses on open source generative AI and development infrastructure for modern AI models. The company’s mission is to help other businesses build AI tools more smoothly, making generative technology easier to deploy. With this new capital, Together AI can boost its research, refine its platform, and broaden its developer offerings.

Lambda: $480 Million Series D

Lambda, an AI infrastructure company, soon joined the frenzy by revealing a $480 million Series D. The round, which valued the startup at nearly $2.5 billion, was announced on February 19 and co-led by SGW and Andra Capital. Nvidia, G Squared, ARK Invest, and several other big names also participated. Lambda aims to simplify the process of training and deploying machine learning models by offering scalable computing resources. With so many companies in need of robust AI infrastructure, this massive round shows that investors sense strong demand for Lambda’s solutions.

Abridge: $250 Million Series D

Abridge, based in Pittsburgh, gained significant traction with a $250 million Series D on February 17. Valued at $2.75 billion, this AI-focused platform transcribes and summarizes conversations between patients and clinicians. IVP and Elad Gil co-led the round, and Lightspeed, Redpoint, and Spark Capital also participated. By leveraging advanced language models, Abridge aims to help healthcare professionals document visits more accurately and reduce administrative overhead. This capital should allow them to enhance their technology and expand into new markets, possibly going beyond transcription toward broader patient engagement tools.

Eudia: $105 Million Series A

Legal technology also claimed a chunk of the spotlight in February. Eudia, an AI-driven legal tech company, raised $105 million in a Series A round led by General Catalyst on February 13. Floodgate, Defy Ventures, and Everywhere Ventures joined multiple other VC firms and angel investors to back the startup. Eudia specializes in automating contract review and other legal tasks, helping law firms and in-house counsel handle workloads more effectively. With this funding, Eudia aims to refine its algorithms, adapt them to different jurisdictions, and forge partnerships with major law firms nationwide.

EnCharge AI: $100 Million Series B

On the same day as Eudia’s announcement, AI hardware startup EnCharge AI secured a $100 million Series B. Led by Tiger Global, the round attracted participation from Scout Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and RTX Ventures. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Santa Clara, EnCharge AI builds specialized hardware aimed at speeding up neural network computations. As more companies rely on computationally expensive models, EnCharge AI’s products could become crucial in cutting costs and delivering faster results.

Harvey: $300 Million Series D

Harvey, another AI legal tech firm, capped off February’s busy lineup with a $300 million Series D announced on February 12. This fresh capital valued the 3-year-old company at $3 billion. Sequoia spearheaded the round, with OpenAI Startup Fund, Kleiner Perkins, Elad Gil, and others also investing. Harvey works on advanced software that assists law practices in automating contract review, due diligence, and other repetitive tasks. With this momentum, the startup could soon roll out even more sophisticated tools to reshape the legal sector.

January: A Strong Start for AI Funding

January signaled the industry’s early vigor. Several notable companies showcased their ability to secure significant capital and gain meaningful valuations, setting the tone for a busy quarter.

ElevenLabs: $180 Million Series C

Synthetic voice startup ElevenLabs grabbed attention with a $180 million Series C on January 30. This round propelled the company’s valuation past $3 billion and was co-led by ICONIQ Growth and Andreessen Horowitz. Sequoia, NEA, and Salesforce Ventures also joined in. ElevenLabs specializes in natural-sounding voice synthesis for various applications, from customer service bots to assistive devices. With demand for personalized audio experiences on the rise, this funding could help them refine their algorithms and reach broader use cases.

Hippocratic AI: $141 Million Series B

Hippocratic AI, which develops large language models tailored for the healthcare sector, kicked off the year with a $141 million Series B on January 9. This round, led by Kleiner Perkins, placed the company’s valuation above $1.6 billion. Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, and General Catalyst were among the other backers. Hippocratic AI aims to address industry-specific needs like medical record management, diagnostics, and treatment recommendations. With more capital in hand, the startup can strengthen its product offerings and pursue strategic alliances with hospitals and insurance companies.

Looking Ahead

The scale of AI funding so far in 2025 suggests that last year’s momentum is not slowing down. Investors appear confident that artificial intelligence will continue to reshape business, healthcare, law, and everyday life. Startups like Anthropic, Together AI, and others are forging ahead with new research, expansive infrastructure, and specialized solutions.

We can expect a flood of new AI applications to hit the market, all fueled by these hefty investments. As competition intensifies, companies will strive to differentiate themselves through innovation and strong partnerships. In all likelihood, more big checks are on the way. Whether in generative AI, hardware acceleration, or specialized domains like healthcare and legal, 2025 is already shaping up to be another banner year for AI funding in the United States.

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