(Weekly funding roundup July 11-17) Sharp rise in VC inflow led by AI deals

Summary

The third week of July showed a healthier venture funding pulse after two softer weeks, with AI-heavy deals doing much of the lifting.

Why it matters

This is the cleanest macro read in today's batch: capital is back, but it is still concentrating around companies with a strong technical edge or a sharper product story.

Founder/operator read

If you're raising now, assume you will be compared against the best-funded AI deals first. Lead with traction, distribution, and a specific reason your company deserves a premium rather than relying on the category alone.

Original source

Read original