Intel experiences its worst year since going public in 1971, losing 61% of its market value in 2024.
The 2025 funding environment was defined by two numbers: the billions flowing into AI infrastructure and the compressed timelines between rounds. Companies that would have taken 18 months between Series B and C were closing in 6. Valuations reached levels that required new financial structures — revenue-based milestones, structured equity, and convertible instruments replaced simple priced rounds.