How six venture capital giants are reshaping startup financing

Six venture capital firms—Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Founders Fund, and General Catalyst—now raise more capital than all other U.S. venture firms combined, driven by AI startup demands, private company retention, and institutional investor preferences. These firms offer entrepreneurs resources like advisers and recruiting support but also impose high expectations for rapid scaling and large returns, prompting some founders to seek smaller, more flexible investors.