For many startups, going four years without raising new money is rare—but not unheard of in today’s market.
After peaking in 2021, startup funding slowed down dramatically. Some companies managed with their existing funds, while others quietly struggled or shut down. A few tried to raise capital again but couldn’t agree on terms that made sense.
Now, things are slowly picking up. Several startups that hadn’t raised since 2021 or earlier have finally secured new funding rounds in 2025. Many of these companies were already well-funded but waited patiently for better conditions.
Below is a list of startups that recently raised capital after a long pause:
Startups Funded in 2025 After Last Raising in 2021 or Earlier
| Company | What They Do | Location | Total Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammarly | AI writing assistant | San Francisco | $1.4B |
| Addepar | Investment management software | Mountain View, CA | $761M |
| Innovaccer | Healthcare data analytics | San Francisco | $654M |
| Truveta | Healthcare research using EHR data | Bellevue, WA | $515M |
| Invivyd | Antibody treatments for viral infections | Waltham, MA | $466M |
| Flock Freight | Shared truckload freight platform | Encinitas, CA | $459M |
| Persona | Identity verification tools | San Francisco | $417M |
| Outbrain | Ad platform for the open web | New York | $394M |
| Augury | AI solutions for machine and operations monitoring | New York | $369M |
| Umoja Biopharma | Cancer immunotherapy research | Seattle | $363M |
| Loft Orbital | Satellite data platform | San Francisco | $326M |
| Arbor Biotechnologies | Gene-editing therapies | Cambridge, MA | $304M |
| Sera Prognostics | Blood tests predicting pregnancy risks | Salt Lake City | $296M |
| Dexterity | Robotics for warehouses and logistics | Redwood City, CA | $291M |
| Saildrone | Autonomous sea vessels for data collection | Alameda, CA | $249M |
| Geneoscopy | Noninvasive colorectal cancer screening | Saint Louis, MO | $218M |
| Atalanta Therapeutics | Treatments for neurodegenerative diseases | Boston | $207M |
| Aetion | Analytics for life sciences and payers | New York | $204M |
| Alvogen | Pharmaceutical development and manufacturing | Morristown, NJ | $100M |
Large Rounds Return—But at a Cost
Some of these new rounds are still impressive in size. Grammarly, for example, raised a massive $1 billion from General Catalyst after a three-year break. Innovaccer secured $275 million earlier this year. Loft Orbital came back with $170 million to expand its satellite services.
However, not all companies raised as much as before. Saildrone, which had previously raised $100 million, returned with just $60 million. Similarly, Flock Freight’s latest $60 million round is much smaller than the $215 million it raised in 2021.
Valuations Mostly Under Wraps
In many cases, startups haven’t disclosed their current valuations. Given how inflated valuations were in 2021, it’s likely some had to accept lower terms to secure new funding.
Fresh Funding Still a Good Sign
Despite the downsizing, raising capital in 2025—especially after a long pause—suggests these companies are still seen as promising. Some might have restructured, shifted focus, or adjusted to market realities. As the post-2021 funding landscape continues to evolve, we’ll likely see more startups re-entering the funding scene.
Also read: Stride Green Raises $3.5M: A Bold Leap in Climate-Tech Financing
