As 2025's holiday slowdown looms, this week's U.S. funding fireworks delivered a $5.7 billion bonanza across 10 monster rounds—capping the year with a bang. Databricks dominated with a record-shattering $4B infusion, but cybersecurity, nuclear energy, healthcare, and AI stole spotlight shares too. From SF's data wizards to Virginia's satellite sleuths, investors bet big on scale and sustainability.
Week in Numbers:
- 10 blockbuster deals
- $5.7B+ total raised
- Valuations soaring to $134B
- Sectors heating up: AI/data (35%), security/energy (25%), biotech/health (20%)
Databricks Dominates: AI/Data's $4B Crown Jewel
San Francisco's perennial powerhouse Databricks crushed it with a $4B Series L (that's no typo—L for legendary) at a whopping $134B valuation. Led by Insight Partners, Fidelity, and J.P. Morgan Asset Management, the 12-year-old data/AI unicorn hit a $4.8B quarterly revenue run-rate, up 55% YoY. This isn't just funding—it's fuel for the AI arms race.
Insight: At this scale, Databricks isn't building tools; it's rearchitecting enterprise data worlds. Expect ripple effects in cloud and analytics for 2026.
| Rank | Company | Amount | Sector | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Databricks | $4B | Data & AI | Series L led by Insight/Fidelity/JPM; $134B val; $4.8B ARR (+55% YoY) |
Cybersecurity & Nuclear: Defense-Tech Double Punch
Security and clean energy flex with back-to-back behemoths. Cyera's AI data shield locked $400M at $9B val (total: $1.7B), led by Blackstone—perfect for a breach-weary world. Radiant, meanwhile, nuked norms with $300M Series D from Draper/Boost VC, eyeing a Tennessee factory groundbreaking in Q1 '26 for portable microreactors.
Insight: As grids strain and hacks surge, these rounds signal VCs hedging bets on fortified futures—cyber as the new moat, nuclear as the green grid savior.
| Rank | Company | Amount | Sector | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cyera | $400M | Cybersecurity | Blackstone-led; $9B val; AI data security platform (4 yrs old, $1.7B total) |
| 3 | Radiant | $300M | Nuclear Power | Series D by Draper/Boost VC; El Segundo-based; Oak Ridge factory Q1 '26 |
Healthcare & Fintech: Patient-Centric Power Plays
Tebra's $250M blend (equity from Hildred, debt from JPM) amps AI/automation in patient records for private practices—streamlining care in Corona del Mar. Tied at #5, Imprint's $150M Series D (Khosla-led, $1.2B val) supercharges brand-tied credit cards, backed by Thrive/Ribbit/Kleiner.
Insight: Health's shift to AI ops meets fintech's loyalty loop—deals that blend tech with trust for sticky consumer wins.
| Rank | Company | Amount | Sector | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Tebra | $250M | Healthcare Software | Equity (Hildred) + debt (JPM); AI/automation for practices |
| 5 (tie) | Imprint | $150M | Fintech | Series D by Khosla; $1.2B val; Brand-affiliated cards (Thrive/Ribbit/etc.) |
Space Intel & Biotech: Orbiting Innovations
HawkEye 360's $150M Series E (NightDragon/Center15 equity + SVB debt) geolocates RF signals from orbit, fresh off acquiring Innovative Signal Analysis—Herndon's spy-tech edge sharpens. Biotech ties at #7-8: Chai Discovery's $130M Series B (Oak HC/FT/General Catalyst, $1.3B val) AI-reprograms molecules; Ambros Therapeutics' $125M Series A (RA Capital/Patient Square) licenses neridronate for pain syndromes.
Insight: From satellite sentinels to molecular maestros, these fuse AI with domain depth—unlocking intel and cures at warp speed.
| Rank | Company | Amount | Sector | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 (tie) | HawkEye 360 | $150M | Satellite Intelligence | Series E (NightDragon/Center15 + SVB debt); RF detection; Acquired Innovative Signal |
| 7 | Chai Discovery | $130M | Biotech & AI | Series B by Oak HC/FT/General Catalyst; $1.3B val; Molecule interaction AI |
| 8 (tie) | Ambros Therapeutics | $125M | Biotech | Series A (RA Capital/Patient Square); Neridronate for pain (Irvine launch) |
Efficiency Edge: Chips & Therapeutics
Mythic's $125M (DCVC-led) crafts energy-sipping AI semis in Austin, rallying a VC all-star squad. Rounding out at #10, Atavistik Bio's $120M Series B (Column Group/Nextech, $220M total since '21) targets allosteric drugs in Cambridge—precision medicine's next frontier.
Insight: Power-hungry AI meets lean hardware; biotech's targeted tweaks promise fewer side effects, bigger breakthroughs.
| Rank | Company | Amount | Sector | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 (tie) | Mythic | $125M | Microprocessors | DCVC-led; Energy-efficient AI chips (Austin-based) |
| 10 | Atavistik Bio | $120M | Biotech | Series B by Column/Nextech; Allosteric therapeutics ($220M total) |
2025 Closer: With Databricks' mega-haul, U.S. VC hit escape velocity—$5.7B here alone amid a year of AI-fueled resilience. Security/energy leads hint at macro bets on stability; biotech/AI depth tees up '26 cures and computes. Crunchbase data shows 2025's megadeals up 12% YoY—holidays or not, the engine hums. What's your boldest '26 prediction? Drop it in comments. Next roundup: Jan 3.
