> **来源：[研报客](https://pc.yanbaoke.cn)** # 2026 US Venture Capital Outlook Summary ## Core Content This document provides an outlook on the US venture capital (VC) market for 2026, highlighting trends and key factors influencing deal activity, liquidity, and fundraising. The analysis is conducted by the Institutional Research Group at PitchBook, with insights from Kyle Stanford, Emily Zheng, Kaidi Gao, and Susan Hu. ## Main Points ### 1. Market Outlook - **Early-stage deal activity** is expected to surge in 2026 due to AI-driven investment and the continued focus on early-stage opportunities. - **Later-stage deal activity** remains strong, with a notable increase in AI-related investments. - **Liquidity** is expected to return gradually, but the recovery will be uneven. - **Fundraising** has bottomed out and is anticipated to rebound slowly as distributions and LP sentiment improve. ### 2. Key Trends - **AI** is the dominant force in the VC market, influencing both early and later-stage deal activity. - **Multistage investors** are increasingly investing in seed and Series A rounds, indicating a shift in investment strategy. - **Geographic consolidation** is occurring, with most capital concentrated in major hubs like the Bay Area and New York. - **Venture-growth deals** are showing strong performance, with deal value and count increasing significantly in 2025. ### 3. Investor Behavior - **LP sentiment** remains poor, with net cash flows negative since 2022. - **Emerging managers** face challenges in raising new funds, leading to a concentration of capital among established firms. - **Investors are cautious**, with a focus on quality and returns, especially in later-stage deals. ## Key Information ### 1. Early-stage Deal Activity - Early-stage deal counts are on pace to match 2023 and 2024 totals. - AI startups have captured **65% of total VC deal value** through Q3 2025. - First-time financings are pacing to fall behind only 2021 in terms of completed deals. - AI has significantly reduced the cost of building a company and is a key driver of early-stage investment. ### 2. Later-stage Deal Activity - Later-stage deal activity has remained strong, with **AI accounting for 28% of late-stage deal count** in 2025, up from 24% in 2024. - Series C and D+ deals have seen a rise in median pre-money valuations, with **Series C reaching $307 million**—the highest in a decade. - The top-performing companies continue to raise capital, while many others struggle to meet growth expectations. ### 3. Liquidity and Fundraising - Total exit value in 2025 is projected to fall below $300 billion, trailing 2021 and earlier years. - The IPO market has not yet delivered the expected wave of exits, though it remains open. - **Secondaries** are expected to play a key role in improving market liquidity. ### 4. Geographic Concentration - **California and New York** are the leading states for early-stage and AI deal activity. - The Bay Area remains the top region for AI first financings due to its concentration of capital and talent. - The median distance between seed lead investors and target companies has declined over the past three years. ### 5. Risks - The VC market remains **vulnerable to liquidity challenges** and **market uncertainty**. - **Emerging managers** struggle to raise new funds, limiting their ability to invest in new opportunities. - The AI market appears to be **overheated**, with a top-heavy distribution of investment and valuations. ## Conclusion The 2026 US VC market is expected to see a **modest increase in deal activity**, particularly in early-stage and later-stage AI-related ventures. While liquidity is expected to improve, it will not be uniform across all sectors. The **concentration of capital** among established firms and multistage investors is likely to continue, with **AI driving growth and innovation**. The **geographic shift** toward major hubs is expected to persist, and the **divergence in performance** between AI and non-AI startups will remain a defining characteristic of the market.