What Marketers Can Learn From The AI Gold Rush
This is alarming.
Over 60% of VC money is now going to AI companies.
For reference, only 40% of the VC money went to internet companies in 1999.
If those AI companies don’t start generating real revenue soon enough, investors will start stepping back.
When this happens, all those unprofitable companies will go bankrupt and potentially trigger a systematic collapse, similar to what happened in 2000.
Time to be more cautious than greedy when it comes to AI driven investment theses.
AI is sucking up over 60% of all venture capital dollars right now. That’s more than the dot-com boom ever saw. The hype is massive, but beneath it lies a lesson in market psychology that every marketer can use.
The Marketing Behind the Curve
This chart screams one thing: FOMO drives dollars. Investors chase what’s hot, just like consumers chase trending products. AI isn’t just technology; it’s a story — of innovation, disruption, and fear of being left behind.
Why It Works
- Urgency and fear of missing out fuel action
- The “future-forward” story gives emotional appeal
- Social proof from big VCs legitimizes the space
- Clear winners create halo effects for smaller players
Real-World Echoes
- Tesla’s stock soared 700% in 2020 driven by EV hype
- Crypto projects raised $20B+ in 2018 amid FOMO waves
- “Web3” startups flooded upwork with 10x job listings in 2021
The takeaway: when attention peaks, ride the narrative—but don’t drown in the hype.