Startup Trends: Q3 2026’s most in-demand private companies based on investor bids

Private market valuations offer one view of a company’s standing. Investor bids offer another, that being where buyers are actively seeking exposure. During the third quarter of 2026, Forge’s most sought-after companies spanned defense technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, financial services and biotechnology.

For private market investors, this activity can help identify companies and investment themes attracting buyer interest. For existing shareholders, it can also indicate potential opportunities to connect with buyers seeking shares.

The following 10 companies received the most investor bids on the Forge marketplace during Q3 2026, ranked from highest to lowest. The company developments and pricing below provide additional context for evaluating that demand.

Anduril, autonomous defense technology

Costa Mesa, California-based Anduril leads the quarterly ranking. Founded in 2017, the company develops autonomous defense systems and Lattice, a software platform that connects sensors, aircraft and other military assets to help operators understand and respond to threats.

In September, defense aviation company Hermeus selected Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy for its high-speed aircraft program. The companies are integrating the software with Hermeus’ Quarterhorse aircraft and planning a first mission autonomy flight on Quarterhorse Mk 2 in 2027.¹ The collaboration illustrates how Anduril can expand through software installed on other manufacturers’ aircraft, alongside its own hardware business.

Anduril’s Forge Price™ is $140.00 as of October 23, 2026, implying a valuation of $123.86 billion. Its notable investors include Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, 8VC and Thrive Capital.

OpenAI, expanding AI into business workflows

San Francisco, California-based OpenAI ranks second. Founded in 2015, the company develops ChatGPT and AI models used for writing, coding, analysis and other tasks by individuals, developers and businesses.

In September, OpenAI and CRM software provider HubSpot expanded their partnership to bring more AI capabilities to small and midsize businesses. The collaboration includes an enhanced HubSpot connector for ChatGPT, an integration for managing ChatGPT advertising through HubSpot and a joint AI Growth Bundle.² For investors, the partnership offers an example of OpenAI’s efforts to embed its technology into everyday business operations and customer acquisition.

As of March 2026, OpenAI’s last funding-round price per share was $687.69 with a post-money valuation of $852 billion. Its notable investors include Microsoft, SoftBank, Amazon and NVIDIA.

Databricks, data infrastructure for enterprise AI

Third on the list is San Francisco, California-based Databricks. Founded in 2013, the company provides a platform that helps businesses organize and analyze data, build AI applications and manage the information those applications need to operate.

In August, Databricks announced a $5 billion strategic funding round at a $190 billion valuation. The company also reported that its revenue run rate had surpassed $7 billion, with growth exceeding 80% year over year during its fiscal second quarter. Proceeds will support products including Lakebase, Genie and Unity AI Gateway, which address the data, business context and cost controls needed to deploy AI agents.³

Databricks’ Forge Price™ is $288.40 as of October 23, 2026, implying a valuation of $216.58 billion. Its notable investors include Coatue, Insight Partners, Andreessen Horowitz and Fidelity Management & Research Company.

Apptronik, humanoid robots for industrial work

Austin, Texas-based Apptronik places fourth. Founded in 2016, the company develops Apollo humanoid robots for work in manufacturing, logistics and other commercial environments, including moving and handling goods.

Entering Q3, Apptronik had just unveiled Apollo 2 and the expansion of Robot Park, its nearly 90,000-square-foot robot training and data collection facility. Announced on June 30, the initiative supports its research partnership with Google DeepMind, using experience gathered from robots to improve AI models for physical work. That effort addresses the commercialization challenge of making robots reliable across varied tasks and environments.⁴

Apptronik’s Forge Price™ is $36.97 as of October 23, 2026, implying a valuation of $5.30 billion. Its notable investors include B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz and Qatar Investment Authority.

Shield AI, software for autonomous flight

San Diego, California-based Shield AI ranks fifth. Founded in 2015, the defense technology company develops Hivemind autonomy software and uncrewed aircraft, including its V-BAT.

In July, Shield AI and Honeywell Aerospace announced a memorandum of understanding to combine Hivemind with Honeywell’s avionics, navigation and sensing technologies. The collaboration aims to advance the deployment of autonomous aircraft for defense customers while exploring commercial aviation applications.⁵ For investors, it represents a potential route to extending Shield AI’s software across aircraft platforms beyond its own fleet.

Shield AI’s Forge Price™ is $172.04 as of October 23, 2026, implying a valuation of $13.77 billion. Its notable investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Breyer Capital, Homebrew and Point72 Ventures.

Stripe, financial infrastructure for the AI economy

Stripe, headquartered in South San Francisco, California takes sixth place. Founded in 2010, the company provides payments, billing and money management tools for businesses ranging from startups to large enterprises.

In August, Stripe agreed to acquire OpenRouter, a platform that helps businesses select and route requests among AI models. Stripe said the combination would help customers manage AI costs and performance alongside revenue generation. The proposed acquisition extends Stripe’s role in the AI economy beyond collecting payments to helping businesses manage the economics of delivering AI services.⁶

Stripe’s Forge Price™ is $72.45 as of October 23, 2026, implying a valuation of $184.40 billion. Its notable investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital and Coatue.

Crusoe Energy Systems, powering AI infrastructure

Denver, Colorado-based Crusoe Energy Systems, which operates as Crusoe, ranks seventh. Founded in 2018, the company provides AI infrastructure spanning energy, data centers and cloud computing, positioning it within the physical systems needed to support growing AI workloads.

In September, Crusoe announced the initial closing of an anticipated $3.9 billion Series F round at a $30.9 billion post-money valuation. The funding will support expansion across its infrastructure platform, including large data center campuses, modular computing facilities and Crusoe Cloud.⁷ The company’s approach gives investors exposure to the power and computing capacity behind AI adoption.

Crusoe’s Forge Price™ is $223.51 as of October 23, 2026, implying a valuation of $26.61 billion. Its notable investors include Founders Fund, NVIDIA, Mubadala Capital and Valor Equity Partners.

Polymarket, prediction markets reach wider audiences

New York, New York-based Polymarket holds eighth place. Founded in 2020, the company operates a prediction market platform where participants trade contracts tied to the outcomes of real-world events.

In August, Polymarket became an official prediction market partner of the New York Yankees. The agreement includes stadium signage and fan experiences during the remainder of the 2026 baseball season.⁸ The partnership demonstrates how prediction market operators are seeking broader audiences through established sports brands, making customer acquisition and sustained engagement key developments for investors to monitor.

Polymarket’s Forge Price™ is $134.55 as of October 23, 2026, implying a valuation of $13.87 billion. Its notable investors include Intercontinental Exchange, Founders Fund, Dragonfly Capital and General Catalyst.

Life Biosciences, cellular rejuvenation enters human testing

Boston, Massachusetts-based Life Biosciences ranks ninth. Founded in 2017, the biotechnology company develops experimental therapies targeting age-related disease through epigenetic restoration, an approach intended to reset patterns of gene activity in older or damaged cells.

Following the quarter’s close, Life Biosciences announced interim Phase 1 results for its investigational ER-100 therapy. The company reported that treatment was well tolerated through 56 days in three participants with glaucoma, supporting escalation to a higher dose. The small, early-stage study is designed to assess safety and tolerability; however, it does not establish clinical efficacy.⁹ For investors, continued trial progress is a key milestone in evaluating the company’s scientific and commercial potential.

Life Biosciences announced an $80 million Series D financing in April 2026. Reported backers include Alpha Wave Ventures, LeFrak, Longevitytech.fund and Apple Core Holdings.¹⁰

SambaNova Systems, computing infrastructure for AI inference

San Jose, California-based SambaNova Systems rounds out the list. Founded in 2017, the company develops chips, systems and cloud services for AI inference, the process of running trained models to produce answers and perform tasks.

In July, SambaNova announced the first close of a $1 billion Series F financing at an $11 billion post-money valuation. It also announced that JPMorganChase had selected its systems for AI inference within the bank’s own infrastructure.¹¹ Together, the developments highlight the company’s effort to turn demand for fast, controlled AI deployment into enterprise business.

SambaNova’s Forge Price™ is $70.13, implying a valuation of $6.07 billion. Its notable investors include General Atlantic, Intel Capital, BlackRock and T. Rowe Price Associates.

Investor takeaway

Q3’s ranking shows investor interest across several layers of technological development, from AI applications and computing infrastructure to autonomous machines and experimental medicines. For accredited investors, bid activity can provide a starting point for researching companies attracting attention in the secondary market. For shareholders considering a sale, it can help identify where potential buyers are looking for access. Pairing that demand with company fundamentals, pricing, available supply and transfer requirements provides a fuller picture of potential opportunities on the Forge marketplace.