The Neuron: AI Explained Carta’s CMO Reveals What’s Really Happening to Startups
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Mar 20, 2026 
Nicole Baer, Carta CMO and two-time founder with ~25 years in tech marketing, breaks down 2026 startup shifts. She covers how half of VC now backs AI-native companies. She explains fewer deals but bigger checks, the rise of solo founders, faster billion-dollar trajectories, and how AI is changing marketing, go-to-market, and fund administration.
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Fewer Deals But Bigger Checks Concentrate Power
- Deal count is at a six-year low while dollars concentrate in fewer winners.
- Mega funds pour large checks into proven AI leaders, creating a winners-take-most market and fewer funded companies overall.
AI Enables A Rise In Solo Founders
- Solo founders increased ~10% in five years, driven by AI tooling.
- Founders can build, scale, and run go-to-market earlier using AI agents, reducing headcount needs and enabling rapid revenue growth.
Billion Dollar Timelines Shrunk To Years
- Startups are hitting billion-dollar revenue much faster, often in 2–3 years.
- Rapid scale expectations fuel intense pace and work culture as companies chase outsized ARR growth.