Among all the technology themes, artificial intelligence (AI) attracted the largest number of venture capital (VC) investors during 2021, while Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity led in terms of investors-to-idea ratio (number of VC investors / number of funded companies) and average deal size, respectively, according to GlobalData.

The leading and data analytics company found that a total of 3,166 AI start-ups received funding worth $89.2 billion from 6,786 VC investors during 2021, which is the highest among all the technology themes. Meanwhile, cybersecurity occupied the top position in terms of average deal size, which stood at $34.9 million 2021. On the other hand, IoT registered the highest investors-to-idea ratio of 3.6 in 2021.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “With gradually increasing dependency on technology and virtual platforms in almost all facets of life, AI is gaining prominence. VC investors are also evincing interest in IoT based service providers as factors like automation and ease of doing work with connected devices are increasing.”

Key funded companies across the technologies were mostly concentrated in the US or Asia-Pacific regions such as China. Some of the key funded companies’ of 2021 active in the AI space or focused on the application of AI included the US-based Robinhood Financial, Databricks and Chinese firm, Horizon Robotics.

Cybersecurity solutions providers, such as Lacework and Transmit Security, were also among the key companies that were on VC investors’ radar during 2021. Meanwhile, some of the key funded IoT based service providers of 2021 included Trax Technology Solutions and Banma Network Technologies.