Discover the latest trends in global monthly funding data, with a unique focus on companies’ domain name choices, in our monthly funding reports.

Overview

February’s funding landscape saw a decline in total capital raised, dropping from $51.45B (613 deals) in January to $33.24B (604 deals). Investors showed a cautious approach, prioritising early-stage opportunities while reducing commitments to later rounds, signaling a shift in risk appetite and a focus on long-term growth potential.

This shift was reflected in pre-seed funding, which nearly doubled to $179.4M (69 deals), and seed funding, which increased to $963.7M (156 deals). Meanwhile, Series A, B, C, and E rounds saw notable declines. Series A funding fell to $2.34B (98 deals) from $3.86B (132 deals), and Series C dropped to $2.78B (25 deals) from $3.07B (38 deals). Later-stage funding was mixed, with Series D surging to $1.67B (10 deals), while Series E shrank to $389.7M (3 deals).

By funds raised/ Total funding $33,241,558,720

By number of deals/Total number of deals 604

Political and Economic Influences on February’s Funding Landscape

United States

In February 2025, the United States continued to navigate a complex political landscape shaped by debates over domestic policies, international relations, and economic strategies. Inflation remains a primary concern, reflecting widespread anxieties over financial stability and the effectiveness of policy measures.

The administration’s decision to halt military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine has drawn criticism from NATO allies, reshaping the conflict’s dynamics and raising concerns about the future of U.S. foreign policy in Eastern Europe.

Global Landscape

The war in Ukraine remains a key source of geopolitical instability, with repercussions extending beyond the battlefield. The ongoing conflict has intensified humanitarian challenges, disrupted energy markets, and created uncertainty for global investors.

China has expanded its diplomatic efforts in Europe, with President Xi Jinping’s envoy, Lu Shaye, actively engaging with EU leaders. The initiative seeks to exploit EU and U.S. divisions over trade and security policies. Countries such as Spain, Italy, and Hungary have shown a willingness to strengthen economic ties with China, signaling a potential shift in geopolitical alignments.

OPEC+ has reported a surge in oil output, led by Kazakhstan, which has maintained stable global demand forecasts but placed downward pressure on oil prices. These developments, combined with ongoing trade tensions and economic uncertainty, continue to shape global political dynamics, influencing investor confidence and long-term strategies.

Economic Influences

United States

The U.S. economy in February 2025 presented mixed signals. The new 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports has sparked concerns over inflationary pressures and the risk of a recession. Consumer prices increased at an annual rate of 2.8%, while core inflation (excluding food and energy) climbed to 3.1%. These trends have fueled ongoing debates about the long-term impact of trade policies on domestic economic stability.

The Ipsos “What Worries the World” survey for February 2025 shows that 40% of Americans identify inflation as a top concern, followed by poverty and social inequality (31%), unemployment (27%), and crime and violence (26%), underscoring broader global anxieties and reflect key economic challenges facing the United States.

China has seized the opportunity created by trade tensions, intensifying its diplomatic and economic engagement with the European Union. The country is positioning itself as a more stable and cooperative partner in global trade, potentially shifting the balance of international commerce.

Global Landscape

The global economic outlook for 2025 remains subdued, with growth projected to stagnate at 2.7%, mirroring 2024 levels. Weak investment, slow productivity gains, and high debt levels limit expansion. While major economies like the United States and China are expected to slow down, India and Indonesia are forecasted to perform strongly, contributing to regional economic growth.

The next 25 years will be a tougher slog for developing economies than the last 25. Most of the forces that once aided their rise have dissipated. In their place have come daunting headwinds: high debt burdens, weak investment and productivity growth, and the rising costs of climate change.

Indermit Gill, chief economist at the World Bank Group and senior vice-president for development economics for The Times

The Ipsos “What Worries the World” survey for February 2025 found that inflation remains the leading global concern, with 40% of respondents identifying it as a key issue. Other major worries include poverty and social inequality (31%), unemployment (27%), and crime and violence (26%). Concern about climate change has also risen, with 19% of respondents citing it as a major issue, reflecting growing awareness of environmental risks in economic decision-making.

Key Investment Sectors in February 2024

Investors prioritise AI-powered solutions, with strong confidence in healthcare, sustainability, fintech, and automation, focusing on efficiency, innovation, and long-term growth.

Health and biotechnology remain strong, with funding in biopharma, precision medicine, and AI-driven diagnostics. Medical devices and wearables are reshaping personalised healthcare.

Energy investments focus on renewables, energy storage, and carbon capture alongside oil and gas infrastructure: electric vehicles, aerospace, and robotics drive manufacturing and logistics.

E-commerce, digital media, and advertising attract capital as AI enhances retail, streaming, and audience targeting. Cybersecurity and IT infrastructure see increased funding amid rising data threats.

Consumer and hospitality sectors, including food, travel, and accommodations, leverage AI for personalisation and efficiency.

Domain Names Highlights

Exact Brand Match (EBM) and .com domains remain the gold standard, ensuring brand strength, credibility, and ease of access. Companies investing in EBM domains position themselves for long-term success, reinforcing their brand while avoiding the pitfalls of fragmented and less intuitive alternatives.

.com remains the dominant choice, with 405 companies (67%) leveraging the most trusted global extension. The preference for .com domains reflects a strategic move toward stronger brand identity, easier discoverability, and greater user trust.

While .ai (62 domains) remains popular among AI-focused startups, it lacks the universal credibility of .com. Extensions like .io (23) and .co (15) maintain niche appeal, particularly in the tech space, but remain secondary choices.

Among the 604 analysed domains, (EBM) domains continue to hold a strong presence, with 283 companies securing their EBM for enhanced brand consistency and recognition.

A notable 28 domains use a dash (-), a less favorable approach that can lead to user confusion and brand inconsistency.

Namepicks

Apptronik 

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Industrial Automation, Real Time, Robotics

Funds Raised: $350,000,000 Series А

Apptronik, an Austin-based AI-powered humanoid robotics company, has raised $350 million in Series A funding led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with Google participating. The funding will be used to accelerate the deployment of Apollo, the company’s advanced humanoid robot, while scaling operations, driving innovation, and expanding its team.

Founded out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, Apptronik specialises in developing humanoid robots designed to assist humans across various industries. Its flagship robot, Apollo, is engineered for collaboration, starting with manufacturing and logistics, with plans to expand into healthcare and home applications. The company has already established strategic partnerships with Google DeepMind, Mercedes-Benz, and GXO Logistics, reinforcing the market demand for its technology.

Apptronik operates under its Exact Brand Match (EBM) domain, Apptronik.com, ensuring brand authority, credibility, and ease of access. 

Genspark

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Search Engine, Software

Funds Raised: $100,000,000 Series А

AI search startup Genspark has secured $100 million in Series A funding, pushing its valuation to $530 million. The round, backed by U.S. and Singapore-based investors, signals growing interest in AI-driven alternatives to traditional search engines.

Based in Palo Alto, Genspark is among a new wave of companies aiming to disrupt Google’s dominance by offering AI-generated search results that provide direct answers with citations, enhancing the user experience. The company’s CEO, Eric Jing, previously led Baidu’s Xiaodu AI division, bringing expertise in AI-powered innovative technology to the startup.

Genspark has established a strong digital presence with Genspark.com (its Exact Brand Match .com domain) and Genspark.ai, ensuring it captures both mainstream and AI-focused audiences. While Genspark.com strengthens its credibility and global reach, Genspark.ai aligns with its AI-driven innovation, giving the company flexibility as it scales in the competitive search market.

Hightouch

Industry: CRM, Developer Platform, SaaS

Funds Raised: $80,000,000 Series C

Hightouch, a San Francisco-based AI and data platform for marketing personalisation, has raised $80 million in Series C funding, bringing its valuation to $1.2 billion. The round was led by Sapphire Ventures, with NVC, ICONIQ Growth, Amplify Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, and Y Combinator participation.

The funding will expand engineering, product, and go-to-market teams to drive enterprise adoption of Hightouch’s Composable CDP and accelerate AI Decisioning deployment for Fortune 500 companies. Used by Autotrader, Spotify, Cars.com, Grammarly, and PetSmart, Hightouch enables personalised customer experiences and performance marketing through data activation and AI-driven insights.

Hightouch operates on the EBM Hightouch.com, preventing traffic leaks and ensuring trust, credibility, and seamless brand recognition.

NinjaOne

Industry: Cyber Security, Document Management, Information Services, Software, Software Engineering

Funds Raised: $500,000,000 Series C

Austin-based automated endpoint management platform NinjaOne has raised $500 million in Series C funding, bringing its valuation to $5 billion. The round was led by ICONIQ Growth and CapitalG, with participation from private investors.

The funding will accelerate R&D efforts in autonomous endpoint management, patching, vulnerability remediation, and expanded IT solutions to enhance employee device experiences. With a customer base of 24,000+ organisations, including Nvidia, Lyft, Porsche, and HelloFresh, NinjaOne continues to expand its capabilities, including its $262M acquisition of Dropsuite and AI-driven innovations.

NinjaOne operates on NinjaOne.com. Investing in an EBM domain gives the company full brand autonomy, ensuring control over its online presence, customer experience, and long-term scalability.

Saronic

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Manufacturing, Marine Technology

Funds Raised: $600,000,000 Series C

Backed by a $600 million Series C funding round, Saronic Technologies is scaling its autonomous maritime vessel production, bringing its valuation to $4 billion. The round, led by Elad Gil, with participation from General Catalyst, a16z, Caffeinated Capital, and 8VC, will support the development of Port Alpha, a next-generation shipyard aimed at expanding its Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) fleet for defense applications.

Saronic’s Spyglass, Cutlass, and Corsair ASVs leverage AI-powered, modular, and scalable platforms to enhance maritime security and military operations. With increasing demand for uncrewed naval solutions, the company is at the forefront of modernising the U.S. hybrid fleet.

Saronic has invested in Saronic.com – an exact brand match .com name. This is the natural choice of most internet users, and securing that domain for their business clearly indicates that Saronic is here to stay.

While we make every effort to ensure the data on our site is accurate, complete, and up-to-date, we cannot guarantee its reliability. Our data is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, or other advice. We strongly recommend that you independently verify any information before relying on it.

The right domain name is an important consideration when it comes to building and protecting your brand. If you’re ready to take the next step and invest in a perfect domain name for your business, contact us to learn more about our available options and how we can help you get started.

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