The Funding File: AI-focused super PAC Leading the Future, Justin and Ben Smith's Semafor, and former Paramount co-CEO Brian Robbins' Big Shot Pictures were among the biggest VC investments in January and February
Key Figures at a Glance
AI Dominates as Media VC Deals Fell 69% to $165 Million in First Two Months of 2026
VC funding for media plunged 69% to just $165M in Jan–Feb 2026 as capital rotated hard into AI, but standout deals in AI infrastructure, profitable digital news, and YouTube-first studios — plus the Paramount–WBD mega‑merger
