Last year, AI grabbed half of venture dollars globally. But the sector's blockbuster growth hasn't necessarily come at the expense of other startup industries. Rather, areas that benefit from AI-driven automation such as legal tech, or that combine AI software with physical tech, like robotics and defense tech, are seeing record-high funding levels as well, Crunchbase data shows. The legal industry may have a reputation for stodginess, but when it comes to automating and streamlining, the sector has been quick on the uptake with new technologies. Venture funding to legal tech startups last year totaled more than $4 billion, per Crunchbase data. That's a record, and nearly double the $2.2 billion the sector raised a year earlier. Defense tech, too, saw record funding last year, as companies such as Anduril Industries and Helsing raised massive rounds. Overall funding to the sector jumped to $8.5 billion in 2025, per Crunchbase data ' an all-time high and more than double the prior...
learn more
