Key Takeaways
- • New York startups raised $3.14B across 59 rounds in September 2026, up 49% from September 2025 and up 274% from August's $837.9M, according to AlleyWatch's NYC funding index.
- • Ten rounds of $100M or more accounted for $2.17B, or 69% of September capital, led by Cyera's $400M Series G from Goldman Sachs Growth Equity and EliseAI's $350M.
- • Deal count fell 38% year over year to 59 from 95, lifting the average round to $53.2M from $24.6M in August.
- • New York captured 10.8% of US venture capital in September, up from 4.8% in August, as national funding declined 5.8% from a year earlier.
- • Series B capital reached $771.0M across nine rounds, with New York taking 23.2% of all US Series B capital; year-to-date NYC funding stands at $22.23B across 614 rounds, 17% above 2025.
Summary
New York startups raised $3.14B across 59 rounds in September 2026, according to AlleyWatch's September 2026 New York Venture Capital Funding Report. The total was up 274% from August and 49% above September 2025, while US venture funding fell 5.8% over the same year-over-year period. The month was driven by a small number of large transactions: ten rounds of $100M or more totaled $2.17B, or 69% of the month's capital. Cyera's $400M Series G from Goldman Sachs Growth Equity was the largest round, followed by EliseAI's $350M, which included Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Bessemer Venture Partners and Andreessen Horowitz. Precision Neuroscience ($250M Series D) and Rightway ($155M Series E) were also among the top rounds.
Deal count recovered from August's 34 rounds but remained 38% below the 95 rounds recorded a year earlier, pushing the average round to $53.2M. By stage, late-stage rounds accounted for $1.87B across 11 rounds, or 59.6% of capital. Series B capital reached $771.0M across nine rounds, led by David (Medici Brands) with $250M and General Intuition, an AI research lab, with $220M. New York captured 23.2% of all US Series B capital. Series A rounds rose from five to 13, with capital of $310.1M compared with $51.6M in August. Early-stage activity was the most numerous at 26 rounds but totaled just $187.1M, averaging $7.2M.
New York's share of national venture capital rose to 10.8% in September from 4.8% in August, with the city accounting for $3.14B of the $29.10B US total. Investor activity was concentrated among repeat backers: Andreessen Horowitz invested in four September rounds, including EliseAI, Clay, Highstock and Adaptive Real Estate, while Thrive Capital and Khosla Ventures each backed three of the ten largest rounds.
Year-to-date NYC venture funding reached $22.23B across 614 rounds, 17% above the same period in 2025. AlleyWatch's preliminary October figures show about $3.78B across 41 rounds through October 22, led by Ramp's $1.9B and Modal's $750M, with the month on pace to exceed September. These figures are preliminary and subject to revision. Figures are drawn from AlleyWatch's proprietary NYC funding index, and corporate rounds, private equity and debt are excluded from stage definitions.
Deal count recovered from August's 34 rounds but remained 38% below the 95 rounds recorded a year earlier, pushing the average round to $53.2M. By stage, late-stage rounds accounted for $1.87B across 11 rounds, or 59.6% of capital. Series B capital reached $771.0M across nine rounds, led by David (Medici Brands) with $250M and General Intuition, an AI research lab, with $220M. New York captured 23.2% of all US Series B capital. Series A rounds rose from five to 13, with capital of $310.1M compared with $51.6M in August. Early-stage activity was the most numerous at 26 rounds but totaled just $187.1M, averaging $7.2M.
New York's share of national venture capital rose to 10.8% in September from 4.8% in August, with the city accounting for $3.14B of the $29.10B US total. Investor activity was concentrated among repeat backers: Andreessen Horowitz invested in four September rounds, including EliseAI, Clay, Highstock and Adaptive Real Estate, while Thrive Capital and Khosla Ventures each backed three of the ten largest rounds.
Year-to-date NYC venture funding reached $22.23B across 614 rounds, 17% above the same period in 2025. AlleyWatch's preliminary October figures show about $3.78B across 41 rounds through October 22, led by Ramp's $1.9B and Modal's $750M, with the month on pace to exceed September. These figures are preliminary and subject to revision. Figures are drawn from AlleyWatch's proprietary NYC funding index, and corporate rounds, private equity and debt are excluded from stage definitions.
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