Saturday 30 December 2023

The Hiked And Spiked Valuations Of 2023, And The Largest AI Deals Of The Year

Friday 29 December 2023

5 trends we’re watching in 2024, from M&A to IPOs

Plus, the largest funding deals of the year

December 29, 2023

Hi, Agen. Will the AI buzz wear off in 2024? Are IPOs finally back? And what will happen with M&A? Today we look at five big startup world trends Crunchbase News’ editors and reporters are watching in the new year. Plus, we list the largest startup raises of 2023, leading with some very big deals indeed.

Between the rapid ascendance of AI and the often dramatic downfall of startups large and small, 2023 was action-packed. We expect 2024 to be the year when things settle down a bit — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some big trends to watch in the new year. Here are our top five.

🤑 The largest startup raises of 2023 all had nine zeroes

While funding continued to trend down in 2023, big raises were there to be had. More than a dozen startups in the U.S. — many of them AI startups — raised $500 million or more in funding rounds and some got a lot more than that. We look at the biggest rounds of the year, starting with a $10 billion round to you-know-who.

🦄 The unicorn hunters: Where are they now?

Funding to the unicorn class of companies — those private startups valued at $1 billion or more — has fallen dramatically in 2023, to around 22% of what it was in the 2021 market peak. So perhaps it’s no surprise that investments in unicorn companies by leading investors from Andreessen Horowitz to Coatue have dropped precipitously in 2023.

See also: The Crunchbase Unicorn Board

📈 These startups saw valuations hiked — and spiked — in 2023

Down rounds in 2023 became increasingly common. They weren’t isolated to troubled companies, either. In fact, valuation resets were visited upon some companies widely considered to be the most likely to have IPO plans for the next few years.

🔮 IPOs? Layoffs? More AI? Share your 2024 outlook in our survey

Do you feel more upbeat or gloomier now compared to a year ago? What are the big tech trends and stories you’ll be watching in 2024? And do you expect the market for new tech IPOs — which briefly opened a smidge this fall — to swing wide open next year? Tell us in our latest brief, anonymous Crunchbase News reader survey.

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