Business Insider Unveils 2026 Seed 40, Highlighting 40 Women Investors as VC Diversity Still Lags
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · May 18
Business Insider Unveils 2026 Seed 40, Highlighting 40 Women Investors as VC Diversity Still Lags
2 articles · Updated · Business Insider · May 18
Business Insider published its sixth annual Seed 40, a companion ranking that spotlights 40 women early-stage investors shaping startup funding despite venture capital's persistent gender imbalance.
The list uses the same ranking methodology as the Seed 100, with data analysis from Termina, a Tribe Capital spinoff, but aims to recognize investors whose track records are still building in a network-driven industry.
The 2026 roster spans prominent names including Floodgate's Ann Miura-Ko, Cowboy Ventures' Aileen Lee, Forerunner's Kirsten Green and Pear VC's Mar Hershenson, alongside newer solo and emerging fund managers.
Many honorees were cited for early bets across AI, health tech, fintech and biotech, reflecting how the same sectors driving today's enlarged seed rounds are also reshaping who gains influence in venture capital.
The release follows Business Insider's 2026 Seed 100 earlier Monday, extending its broader look at early-stage investing as AI-fueled competition and larger seed financings raise the stakes for backing breakout startups.
With AI startup retention at a dismal 40%, are billion-dollar seed rounds just fueling a bubble destined to pop?
As AI's energy thirst grows, will the next tech giants be power companies instead of software firms?
Q1 2026’s $297 Billion AI Boom: Unprecedented Capital, Soaring Valuations, and the Innovation Divide
Overview
In Q1 2026, global venture capital investment soared to a record $297 billion, marking the most concentrated deployment of capital in startup history. This surge was driven by dramatic growth across all funding stages and larger round sizes, with a significant focus on 'frontier lab megarounds.' The majority of this unprecedented capital was directed toward artificial intelligence startups, signaling a major shift in investment priorities. As a result, the period redefined the startup landscape, with AI ventures attracting the largest funding rounds ever seen and reshaping how investors approach risk and opportunity in the tech sector.