Reviewing past seed funding data allows us to reflect on the previous visions for the future. In this context, we turn back the clock to around 2015, during the later years of the Obama administration. This was a pivotal time in the startup ecosystem, marked by notable events such as Uber’s remarkable $40 billion valuation and Alibaba’s exceptional IPO.

Seed Funding Trends of 2015

In 2015, the seed funding landscape saw a notable trend towards marketplaces. Over 400 companies with “marketplace” in their Crunchbase profiles successfully raised seed capital, indicating a strong investor confidence in consumer-facing, scalable platforms.

This era saw startups aiming to disrupt traditional industries—from insurance to cannabis delivery—demonstrating ambitious visions for everyday challenges. Autonomous driving also gained substantial attention, leading to numerous startups, many of which struggled or dissolved despite ongoing interest in driverless technology.

Success Stories: OpenAI

Among the companies that emerged from this period, OpenAI stands out as a remarkable success story. Launched in late 2015, it attracted significant attention with a team of elite AI experts and co-chairs including Sam Altman and Elon Musk. However, the organization’s nonprofit model led some to underestimate its potential trajectory.

At its launch, OpenAI stated its mission to “advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole.” This focus on broader societal impact contrasted sharply with the profit-driven goals typical in the tech industry, marking a unique approach to innovation.

Current Seed Investment Landscape

Fast forward to today, the seed investment landscape is currently dominated by artificial intelligence, with roughly 40% of U.S. seed funding allocated to AI-related sectors this past year. This amounts to close to $5 billion across over 1,300 funding deals.

Notably, the scale of seed funding has increased significantly. While there were only four seed rounds exceeding $25 million in 2015, over 40 such rounds occurred in the past year, reflecting a heightened appetite for larger early-stage investments.

Looking Ahead

As we consider the future of seed funding in the coming decade, there is a strong possibility that the next analysis could be generated by an AI tool. If current trends continue, investors may witness remarkable developments in AI applications spanning niche sectors such as biotech, robotics, and enterprise software.