VC boom concentrates $413B in AI, sidelines mid‑tier startups
US venture capital deployed a record $412.7 billion in H1 2026, 30% above 2025 total, but 86% went to AI and 91% to deals over $100 million, leaving little for mid‑tier startups. With exits dominated by SpaceX, the ecosystem is hyper‑concentrated, squeezing smaller founders and limiting downstream funding.