TechCrunch Startup News Tiger Global plans cautious venture future with a new $2.2B fund; plus, SoftBank and Nvidia reportedly in talks to fund SkildAI at $14B, nearly tripling its value
Dec 9, 2025
Tiger Global is pivoting with a cautious $2.2B fund, reflecting on its past successes with AI investments in giants like OpenAI and Databricks. They express concerns about inflated AI valuations. Meanwhile, SoftBank and NVIDIA are in discussions to invest over $1B in Skild AI, which aims to create a versatile foundation model for robots, enhancing customization across various applications. The rising interest in AI robotics showcases growing trends in the funding landscape.
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Tiger Global's Shift To Caution
- Tiger Global raised a new $2.2B fund while warning that AI valuations are elevated and sometimes unsupported by fundamentals.
- The firm plans a more targeted, humble approach after its rapid 2021 "spray and pray" investing created valuation hangovers.
PIP-16's Blockbuster AI Wins
- PIP-16 held stakes in OpenAI, Waymo, and Databricks and has shown 33% paper gains so far.
- Those blockbuster AI investments are a key reason Tiger is raising Fund 17 despite warning of elevated valuations.
Skilled AI Draws Deep Pockets
- SoftBank and NVIDIA are reportedly in talks to invest over $1B in Skilled AI at a $14B valuation, nearly tripling its prior value.
- Skilled builds a hardware-agnostic foundation model for robots, attracting strategic partners like LG CNS and HPE.