Family offices and private wealth are increasingly bypassing traditional VC funds to invest directly in AI startups, as companies stay private longer and IPO rates decline. In February alone, family offices made 41 direct investments into startups, nearly all AI-related, with prominent players like Emerson Collective, Azim Premji's office, and Eric Schmidt's Hillspire participating. Investment firms emphasize that early infrastructure exposure is critical, with 83% of family offices citing AI as a top strategic priority.
Strategy
The AI gold rush is pulling private wealth into riskier, earlier bets
Private wealth is bypassing traditional VCs to invest directly in early-stage AI startups—family offices made 41 direct deals in February alone, racing to capture early infrastructure exposure as companies stay private longer.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 12:00 PM UTC2 MIN READSOURCE: TechCrunchBY sys://pipeline
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