Largest Seed Rounds in Past Six Months Go to AI Companies

Largest Seed Rounds in Past Six Months Go to AI Companies

At least 12 companies globally have raised seed rounds of $100 million or more in the past six months, with a majority operating at the intersection of AI and the physical world, according to Crunchbase News. This includes Paris-based Advanced Machine Intelligence, which secured $1.03 billion in a March seed round for developing AI models that learn from real-world sensor data.

Physical AI as a Leading Theme

Advanced Machine Intelligence’s funding was backed by prominent venture firms and strategic investors, as detailed in Crunchbase data. San Francisco-based Unconventional AI raised $475 million in December to develop energy-efficient silicon circuits mimicking biological neurons. Periodic Labs, also in San Francisco, obtained $300 million six months ago to apply AI to science, including automating materials design for semiconductor manufacturing and power grid engineering. China-based startups like Lingchu Intelligence, which develops AI platforms for robotic device simulation, and Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, focused on AI robotic technology, have also landed large seed rounds in this category.

AI Applications Involving Humans

Merge Labs, co-founded by Sam Altman and based in San Francisco, raised $252 million in a financing led by OpenAI earlier this year for advancing brain-computer interfaces. Humans&, a Silicon Valley startup, secured $480 million in January to build foundational AI models centered on human relationships, representing another significant seed recipient in AI. These examples highlight AI startups addressing human-centric applications, as noted in the Crunchbase analysis.

Evolving Trends in Seed Funding

The recent large seed rounds reflect a shift toward fewer deals with larger average sizes, according to Crunchbase News. Seed rounds of $10 million and above have increased from 2% of deals in 2018 to 9%, while 27 seed rounds exceeding $100 million have occurred globally since the beginning of 2025. This trend underscores changing dynamics in early-stage capital allocation, providing ambitious startups with substantial resources. As a widely-known context, seed funding has historically been a critical phase for startups, but recent data shows it becoming more competitive and skewed toward larger investments.