Key Takeaways
- • DFW startups raised $962.5 million across 52 VC deals in Q3 2026, more than double the Q2 total of $448.4 million across 66 deals, according to the PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor.
- • Q3 2026 ranked as the fifth-best quarter in the Venture Monitor's dataset, which dates to 2016, but the nine-month total of roughly $1.73 billion still trails the just over $1.9 billion raised in the same period of 2025.
- • Dallas-based enterprise AI startup Island's $400 million Series F in September, which lifted its valuation to $6.4 billion, was the largest North Texas round of the year cited in the report.
- • DFW's record quarter remains Q2 2022 at $2.21 billion across 76 deals, while nationally VC deal value hit a record $515.8 billion across roughly 14,200 deals in the first three quarters of 2026.
Summary
Dallas-Fort Worth venture capital activity rebounded sharply in the third quarter of 2026, although the region's year-to-date total still lags 2025, according to a new PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor report covered by Dallas Innovates. DFW startups raised $962.5 million across 52 deals in Q3, more than double the $448.4 million raised across 66 deals in the second quarter. The quarter ranked as the fifth-best in the report's dataset, which begins in 2016.
Despite the third-quarter gain, the nine-month total of nearly $1.73 billion fell almost 10% short of the just over $1.9 billion raised in the first nine months of 2025. The region's highest quarterly total in the dataset remains $2.21 billion across 76 deals in the second quarter of 2022, during the pandemic-era venture boom. Three other quarters, all in 2020, 2021 and 2022, also exceeded the Q3 2026 figure.
PitchBook-NVCA does not disclose individual deals, but the largest rounds announced by North Texas companies this year include Dallas-based Island at $400 million, Dallas-based Verily at $300 million, Frisco-based Mazama Energy at $135 million, Dallas-based Perry Weather at $110 million and Dallas-based Cardinal Data Power at about $70 million. Island, an enterprise AI company co-founded in 2020 by CEO Mike Fey and CTO Dan Amiga, announced its Series F in September.
Nationally, the report shows U.S. venture deal value of $515.8 billion across roughly 14,200 deals in the first three quarters of 2026, roughly 44% above 2021's full-year record of $357.9 billion. Publisher context notes that the national recovery is concentrated, with a small number of large rounds driving much of the total.
Despite the third-quarter gain, the nine-month total of nearly $1.73 billion fell almost 10% short of the just over $1.9 billion raised in the first nine months of 2025. The region's highest quarterly total in the dataset remains $2.21 billion across 76 deals in the second quarter of 2022, during the pandemic-era venture boom. Three other quarters, all in 2020, 2021 and 2022, also exceeded the Q3 2026 figure.
PitchBook-NVCA does not disclose individual deals, but the largest rounds announced by North Texas companies this year include Dallas-based Island at $400 million, Dallas-based Verily at $300 million, Frisco-based Mazama Energy at $135 million, Dallas-based Perry Weather at $110 million and Dallas-based Cardinal Data Power at about $70 million. Island, an enterprise AI company co-founded in 2020 by CEO Mike Fey and CTO Dan Amiga, announced its Series F in September.
Nationally, the report shows U.S. venture deal value of $515.8 billion across roughly 14,200 deals in the first three quarters of 2026, roughly 44% above 2021's full-year record of $357.9 billion. Publisher context notes that the national recovery is concentrated, with a small number of large rounds driving much of the total.
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