Charts: small VC funds post outsized AI scores, unicorn counts don't predict AI rank
deedydas · x · 2026-10-21
Sharing extra charts from the Strebulaev–Jackson Venture Rankings 2026 AI ranking (cutoff Aug 31, 2026, 86 firms with reported AUM):
- Small funds post outsized AI scores: doubling AUM corresponds to roughly 40% higher AI scores on average. Menlo stands out at the $10B tier, while Parkway, Sound Ventures, and Factorial beat the trend line from much smaller bases.
- Unicorn counts do not predict AI rank: Accel holds 173 unicorns globally — the same as Andreessen Horowitz — yet ranks 17th in AI to a16z's first. Menlo (#3) and Dragoneer (#8) score near the top with far fewer unicorns, and Sequoia (#4) and General Atlantic also deviate from the size intuition.
Related event: Stanford's 2026 AI Venture Ranking: a16z Tops the List(4 posts)→
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