CBInsights-2021年第三季度人工智能报告（英）-2021-168页_13mb

State of AI - Q3 2021 Summary

Core Content

This report provides a comprehensive overview of global AI dealmaking, funding, and exits in the private market during Q3 2021. It highlights the increasing investment in AI startups, the rise in M&A activity, and the emergence of new unicorns. The report also discusses regional trends, including the United States, Asia, Canada, and Latin America, and presents key statistics on funding and deal sizes across different stages of investment.

Main Points

• Global Funding: AI startups raised a record $17.9B in Q3 2021, marking an 8% increase in funding and a 43% increase in deals compared to the previous quarter. The total funding for 2021 YTD has reached $50B, surpassing 2020 levels by 55%.
• Mega-Rounds: The number of $100M+ mega-rounds in 2021 YTD has reached a record high of 138, with 45+ mega-deals in each of the first three quarters of the year.
• M&A Activity: AI M&A deals surpassed 100 in two consecutive quarters, totaling 253 in 2021 YTD. PayPal's acquisition of Paidy for $2.7B was the largest deal of the quarter, 370% larger than the next largest deal.
• Deal Size Growth: The median deal size in the US increased by 43% QoQ, while the average deal size reached a record $33M.
• New AI Unicorns: 13 new AI unicorns emerged in Q3 2021, bringing the total number of billion-dollar AI startups to 119. NotCo and Unico were the first AI unicorns in LatAm in 4 years.
• High Valuation Startups: Three new unicorns reached $2B+ valuations: Algolia ($2.2B), Black Sesame Technologies ($2.0B), and XtalPi ($2.0B).
• Healthcare AI Funding: Healthcare AI raised $8.5B in 2021 YTD, surpassing the previous year's record. Q3 2021 was the strongest quarter for healthcare AI with $3.2B raised across 149 deals.
• Asia AI Funding: AI funding in Asia reached a record $4.8B in Q3 2021 alone, with total AI funding in 2021 YTD surpassing $13B. Asia-based startups saw 13 $100M+ mega-rounds in Q3 2021.
• Canada AI Funding: Canada's AI funding in 2021 YTD has grown by 206% compared to the previous year, with Q3 2021 being the second-highest quarter ever for AI funding in the country.
• Investor Trends: VCs led the investor deal share in Q3 2021. The median deal size increased across all investor categories, indicating a shift toward larger investments.
• Regional Breakdown:
  • The US dominated AI funding in Q3 2021.
  • Asia and LatAm saw significant growth in funding and deal numbers.
  • Canada saw a notable increase in AI funding, though it experienced a slight drop in Q3.

Key Information

• Global Funding: $17.9B raised in Q3 2021, setting a new record.
• Mega-Rounds: 45+ mega-deals in each of the first three quarters of 2021.
• M&A Deals: 253 M&A exits in 2021 YTD, with PayPal's $2.7B Paidy acquisition being the largest.
• New Unicorns: 13 new AI unicorns in Q3 2021, with 9 in the US, 2 in LatAm, and 2 in Asia.
• High Valuation Startups: Three startups reached $2B+ valuations.
• Healthcare AI: $8.5B raised in 2021 YTD, with Q3 being the strongest quarter ever.
• Asia AI Funding: $4.8B in Q3 2021, with total 2021 YTD funding exceeding $13B.
• Canada AI Funding: $1.5B raised in 2021 YTD, a 206% increase compared to the previous year.
• Investor Activity: VCs led in deal share, with notable participation from large firms such as SoftBank Group, BlackRock, and Tiger Global Management.
• Deal Size Trends: The median late-stage deal size nearly doubled to $95M in 2021 YTD.
• Early-Stage Deals: Asia led in early- and mid-stage deal share in Q3 2021.

Summary Table of Key Metrics

Conclusion

Q3 2021 marked a significant milestone for the AI industry, with record-breaking funding, a surge in M&A activity, and the emergence of numerous new unicorns. The US remained the leader in AI funding, while Asia and LatAm showed substantial growth. The increasing deal sizes and focus on high-value startups indicate a growing confidence in the AI sector's potential, with continued investment from both venture capital and corporate entities.