AI on the Rise: $965M Invested in Early-Stage AI Startups (September 28 – October 4, 2025)
Recent data highlights a substantial increase in global AI investments, signaling strong investor confidence in the transformative potential of AI. Between September 28 – October 4, 2025, early-stage AI startups raised $965 million, reflecting the continued acceleration of innovation across industries ranging from material science to accounting automation and enterprise intelligence.
This week’s funding breakdown shows Series A investments exceeding $343 million, seed-stage deals totaling over $602 million, and pre-seed funding reaching nearly $19.3 million. The distribution highlights investor support for both scalable platforms and innovative early-stage technologies that are poised to reshape industries.
Top 3 Funded Startups
1. Periodic Labs – $300M
Periodic Labs secured the largest funding round of the week, developing AI systems that simulate and predict the properties of materials using machine learning. Their technology has applications across materials research, manufacturing, and product development, enabling faster experimentation and innovation cycles.
2. Dual Entry – $90M
Dual Entry raised $90 million to expand its AI-based accounting software for mid-market enterprises. The platform automates transaction handling and financial reporting, reducing errors and improving efficiency for businesses managing complex accounting workflows.
3. Axiom Math AI – $64M
Axiom Math AI secured $64 million to develop self-improving AI systems for enterprise-level problem solving and information technology applications. Their super-intelligence platform enables continuous learning and optimization, offering high-performance solutions for complex data and analytical challenges.
Full List: Startups Funded This Week
Periodic Labs, Dual Entry, Axiom Math AI, [full list of additional startups from LinkedIn post if desired]
This week’s funding demonstrates the broad applicability of AI—from materials science and enterprise automation to self-improving intelligence platforms—highlighting how startups are addressing real-world problems with advanced AI solutions.
Why It Matters
With nearly $965 million in early-stage funding, this week represents a clear signal that AI is maturing into a critical tool across multiple industries. Periodic Labs is revolutionizing materials research, Dual Entry is redefining enterprise accounting, and Axiom Math AI is creating self-optimizing systems for complex IT challenges.
At Dectec, we see this growth as part of a larger trend toward decentralized, scalable, and impactful AI. Startups are building the infrastructure of tomorrow, and these investments underscore the rapid pace at which AI is shaping the future of business, technology, and innovation.
