In October 2025, venture capital activity climbed sharply as nine startups globally secured funding rounds of at least $500 million, pushing total investment for the month to around $39 billion — up from $34 billion a year ago. While deal count fell, the size of rounds grew, signalling investor selectivity and a drive toward fewer, high‑potential winners. Notably, funding outside Silicon Valley picked up pace. Analysts say this reflects a continued appetite for frontier tech despite macro uncertainties and suggests the “mega‑round” model is now the norm.