Last week we talked about how venture capital investment has actually declined over the past two years, despite heavy investments in AI from corporations like Microsoft AND Google.
But that does not imply large U.S. corporations and their venture corporations aren’t leading many rounds – and some big ones at that.
Likes G.V, Salesforce Ventures 1 AND M12 this yr is at the top of the list for rounds led or co-led by U.S.-based corporate ventures – including massive bets on artificial intelligence, healthcare and cloud.
Thanks to Crunchbase data, let’s take a look at not only who’s investing, but also who’s front and center in these trades.
Taking the lead (or co-leading)
On the investing side, GV – or Google Ventures – has not only participated in the most rounds so far this yr (46), as we mentioned earlier, but is also at the forefront when it involves rounds leading or co-leading CVC , at 11 p.m.
Deals led or co-led by GV have totaled $859 million this yr, in keeping with Crunchbase data, on pace to exceed greater than $1 billion in rounds it led or co-led last yr.
The largest stock he led or co-led this yr was a $125 million round for a biotech company Santa Ana Biography$200 million to launch data surveillance capabilities baby cotand an artificial intelligence law firm Harveya $100 million round – the diversity of which shows how GV likes to spread its money across different sectors.
Salesforce Ventures led or co-led the second-largest round with nine this yr, well off last yr’s pace when it led 14. These rounds totaled $240 million, up from $510 million last yr.
SalesforceThe venture capital arm led a $106 million round for Menlo Park, California Total AI – which has developed a cloud platform that permits developers to create open and custom artificial intelligence models – was valued at $1.25 billion in March.
While each Salesforce Ventures and GV participated in multiple rounds this yr, one other CVC only participated in 15 rounds but led in nine. PayPal venturesthe fintech giant’s investment arm also didn’t lead or co-lead large rounds, but did co-lead an Indonesian omni-channel insurtech startup Qoala$47 million Series C. Most of the rounds he led or co-led were small to mid-sized, and the rounds he led or co-led this yr totaled $214 million, already higher than last yr’s total of $150 million.
Microsoftventure arm, M12follows a similar pattern. Although the investment arm only led or co-led seven rounds this yr, they totaled $152 million, already up from last yr’s $87 million.
These rounds cover a big selection of products, from databases to edge computing platforms, but it’s no surprise that two of the offerings are focused on cybersecurity – as Microsoft is arguably the largest cyber services provider in the world.
M12 made a strategic investment (amount not disclosed) for an Israeli company Zenithsecurity management platform for low-code/no-code and AI applications and a $14 million Series B for Santa Clara, California Strengthen artificial intelligencecreator of protection against phishing and other frauds.
Concluding our look at the top five CVCs in leader-led rounds Intel capital — who is likely to be the most interesting of the bunch, considering his parent breaking news that grabs headlines.
Perhaps not shockingly, the variety of rounds Intel is leading is smaller, as is the overall variety of deals. Last yr, the investment arm closed a total of 32 deals, but this yr it accomplished only 15. Additionally, it led or co-led only six rounds in 2024, in comparison with 16 last yr.
Last yr, rounds he led or co-led totaled $275 million. This yr, those rounds totaled $166 million.
These rounds include early-stage funding for AI startups reminiscent of Bria AND RunPodbecause Intel doesn’t intend to miss out on the AI revolution prefer it did with mobile devices.
Big names
While it is somewhat surprising that the variety of CVC transactions has been declining over the last few years, after a number of enormous, noteworthy transactions, it is not at all shocking that these CVCs are leading the way in managed or co-managed transactions. Microsoft, Google and Salesforce have made it clear that they are willing to speculate billions to develop into leaders in artificial intelligence. Intel has also made strides to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past – although its future stays uncertain.
But beyond flashy AI deals, these CVCs proceed to pour money into other areas of giant personal interest, reminiscent of cyber (Microsoft), biotech (GV) and payments (PayPal Ventures).
CVCs are unlikely to offer up their lead any time soon.