There was a lot of action (and acronyms) in 2023

Plus, these AI startups pulled in the largest deals December 27, 2023 Hi, {NAME}. From crypto contagion to a banking crisis that rocked the industry, to a CEO’s firing saga that was like a never-ending “General Hospital” soap opera storyline, 2023 saw a lot — so [let’s take a look back as we go forward](. 🔤 [There was a lot of action (and acronyms) in 2023]( AI. [SBF](. [FTX](. [SVB](. The startup world was awash in an alphabet soup of acronyms this year. Some of the biggest startups, and the institutions that back them, failed. But the dawn of a new AI age also injected new optimism into the tech world — even as the biggest artificial intelligence startup was embroiled in intense drama. Let’s look back at some of the biggest moments in an action-packed year in tech, startups and VC — and what it means for 2024. 🤑 [The largest AI deals of 2023 — and who funded them]( What a year it’s been for artificial intelligence investment. For a time it seemed nine-figure rounds were being thrown out by investors every week to the latest and greatest AI startup. Let’s look at who ranked at the top of the list for AI funding deals in a very active year. Related Crunchbase Pro list: [Rounds Raised By Startups Using AI In 2023]( 🤖 [How leading investors thought about AI in 2023]( A year ago, the immediate and massive adoption by consumers of AI tools like [ChatGPT]( and [DALL-E]( represented a critical off-to-the-races moment for artificial intelligence — one that’s only furthered investor interest in putting tens of billions of dollars into the technology and tools driving what they see as a paradigm shift for humanity. But many of the investors we spoke with in a series of wide-ranging interviews this year have also been investing in AI since before the ChatGPT moment. Related Crunchbase Pro lists: • [Index Ventures AI Portfolio Companies]( • [Sequoia Capital AI Portfolio Companies]( • [Microsoft’s M12 AI Portfolio Companies]( 🧓 [These are top-funded areas for senior-focused startups]( Startups tackling four major trends related to an aging population — anti-aging breakthroughs, preventative medicine, fitness and managing care — are drawing significant funding. We look at some of the top-funded startups in each space and what they’re working on. Related Crunchbase Pro list: [Aging-Related Startups Funded In 2023]( 🔮 [IPOs? Layoffs? More AI? Share your 2024 outlook in our survey]( Do you feel more upbeat or gloomier now compared to a year ago? What are the big tech trends and stories you’ll be watching in 2024? And do you expect the market for new tech IPOs — which briefly opened a smidge this fall — to swing wide open next year? Tell us in [our latest brief, anonymous Crunchbase News reader survey](. 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