Karl Vidal

Global private equity and venture capital firms are increasingly betting on large AI funding rounds, which may expose limited partners to unintended concentration risk. Private equity-backed unicorn rounds — funding rounds worth at least $1 billion — totaled $179.33 billion in the first quarter. This accounted for nearly 86% of the aggregate amount raised by AI companies through funding rounds in the first quarter, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.

S&P Global Market Intelligence offers our top picks of global private equity news stories and more published throughout the week. Private equity lost some ground when European and North American insurers tallied up their investment allocations in 2025, but this may just be a temporary setback.

Global private equity and venture capital investment in amateur sports is poised for a second consecutive year of growth in 2026, driven by TPG Capital LP's $2 billion acquisition of collegiate athletics services provider Learfield Communications LLC.