Seattle-area startups raise record $3.5B in Q3 as US VC funding cools

Seattle-area startups raised $3.5 billion in venture capital in the third quarter of 2026, the most in at least a decade and more than triple the $1 billion a year earlier. Most went to space and fusion companies including Stoke Space, Starcloud, Hubble Network and Helion. Nationally, US venture funding fell 40% to $98.4 billion.

• $3.5B in Q3 is a regional record going back at least a decade
• Three space companies raised $1.6B combined
• US venture funding fell 40% to $98.4B
• Seattle ranked 7th among US metros for venture dollars