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The anatomy of AI investment
The AI startup frenzy is anything but hype. The first half of 2025 saw global investment in AI startups shoot to more than $205 billion, according to Crunchbase, with $145 billion raised in North America alone. And though observers may argue over their long-term viability, no one disputes the seemingly endless tsunami of new companies entering the fray. All this activity only adds to the pressures of the venture firms trying to determine which companies have the tech and teams to develop and market the next great breakthrough. But for the investment groups focused on a small but growing corner of the market – industrial AI – the stakes are even higher. For Hitachi Ventures, which invests in firms across the technology spectrum, due diligence in the AI space requires a laser focus on the sectors that best align with the business.