I think investors should be extremely cautious about how they gain exposure to AI. Rather than concentrating capital in narrow or exotic AI themes, it is often wiser to favor more established, "boring" applications that have consistently demonstrated their ability to create value.
A useful reminder of the risks of overhyped themes is the wave of startups that, only a few years ago, aggressively pursued metaverse applications. Even Facebook went so far as to rename the company Meta. The outcome, however, has been largely disappointing, with significant value destruction and substantial losses across the metaverse-focused private equity landscape:
- https://futurism.com/future-society/zuckerberg-metaverse-cuts
- https://www.stantonchase.com/insights/blog/from-hype-to-bust-analyzing-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-retail-metaverse
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Carlos Salas
Portfolio Manager & Freelance Investment Research Consultant
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Original Message:
Sent: 20-01-2026 12:55
From: Aya Pariy
Subject: AI as a defining theme for VC - what does it mean for diversification and risk?
Hello Community!
PitchBook's 2026 Outlook reports show that AI accounted for 65% of total VC deal value in 2025, and this momentum is expected to continue shaping VC deployment in 2026. This includes enterprise SaaS, defense tech, carbon tech, mobility, fintech, and cybersecurity. The report is attached here or you can download from our library.
AI is now the lion's share of global VC deployment - 65% of VC deal value last year. As we enter 2026, AI remains the defining theme for venture investors across sectors from climate to cybersecurity. What does this concentration mean for diversification and risk?
#VentureCapital #PrivateEquity
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Aya Pariy
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