Lightspeed and Sequoia Dominate US Venture Capital in January 2026 with AI Powerhouse Deals

In January 2026, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital topped the list as the most active US-based lead investors in venture-scale rounds of $5 million or more.

Each firm led five high-profile deals, marking a brisk and enthusiastic start to the year amid renewed venture funding momentum.

Standout AI-Focused Investments

Lightspeed spearheaded a landmark $300 million Series A for AI chip design startup Ricursive Intelligence, valuing it at $4 billion shortly after launch.

Sequoia fueled the $180 million seed round for innovative AI lab Flapping Airplanes, highlighting bold bets on emerging tech.

Record-Breaking Mega Rounds

Global heavyweight SoftBank led the largest deal, a $1.4 billion Series C for robotics firm Skild AI, tripling its valuation to $14 billion in just seven months.

Tiger Global backed drone delivery leader Zipline with $600 million and co-led $1 billion financing for AI processor pioneer Cerebras Systems.

At the seed stage, Y Combinator tied with Soma Capital at 20 deals each, while Alumni Ventures followed with seven.

Broader Impact and Future Outlook

This surge underscores the US's dominance in global VC, with AI driving optimism and deal flow reminiscent of past boom cycles.

Historically, firms like Lightspeed and Sequoia have propelled unicorns through market highs, now channeling capital into transformative AI applications.

These investments signal accelerating innovation in chips, robotics, and logistics, poised to reshape industries in the coming years.