Sector Snapshot: AI Takes A Growing Share Of Sales And Marketing Startup Funding

google — businesses may be watching their software budgets more closely, but they are still spending on products that help them find customers and keep the ones they already have. Startups across sales, marketing and customer management have raised $7.5 billion so far this year, according to Crunchbase data.

The largest rounds span everything from advertising and customer data to sales software, e-commerce and customer support — reflecting just how many companies are still trying to build a better way to market and sell. The broad trend: Investors are making far fewer bets on sales and marketing startups than immediately before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, but they’re still writing checks into the space. Unsurprisingly, AI-focused companies are capturing a much larger share of funding than during the prior peak, with most sales, marketing and CRM investment going to companies in Crunchbase AI-related categories. The numbers: So far in 2026, startups in sales, marketing and CRM have raised $7.5 billion globally across 830 funding rounds, Crunchbase data shows. At the current pace, funding could finish near the $9.3 billion raised in both 2023 and 2024, although potentially below last year’s $11.1 billion. Deal volume, meanwhile, is on track to fall for a fourth consecutive year — pointing to a market where investors are putting more money into fewer companies. Funding in recent years remains far below past levels. In 2022, for example, funding in the sector topped $27 billion, and in 2021, it totaled nearly $41 billion. Notable deals The year’s largest funding recipient so far was AppsFlyer, which raised more than $1 billion in a June Series E from Moloco, Google, Meta and Unity. The San Francisco-based marketing measurement company, whose products now include AI agents that analyze marketing data and automate tasks, was valued at $2.7 billion. Restaurant financing and rewards platform inKind Capital announced $450 million in new capital in February. The Austin-based company did not identify a lead investor or disclose a valuation. In January, AI-native customer service company Parloa raised a $350 million Series D led by General Catalyst. The Berlin-based company develops AI agents that handle customer conversations by phone and other channels. The financing tripled its valuation to $3 billion.