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A table that shows global venture capital funding in business productivity software from 2020 to 2025. Total capital invested rose from $83 billion in 2020 to $295 billion in 2025. Deal count peaked at 24,633 in 2021 and declined to 16,714 in 2025.

Global VC funding in business productivity software

Northslope, a customized AI application developer, raised a $22 million Series A co-led by Friends & Family Capital and Goldcrest Capital, CEO Bill Ward tells Axios exclusively.

Why it matters: Companies are increasingly directing capital toward AI software designed to operate inside specific workflows, rather than general-purpose tools.

How it works: Northslope builds customized AI applications for customers, including doctors, aerospace manufacturers and energy producers.

"Our founding belief is that the era of one-size-fits-all software is over," Ward says. "We figure out what our customer's hardest problem is, then build software that turns that problem into a competitive advantage."

Zoom in: Ward described work with a hospital system focused on improving care quality. Northslope's software adapts to the hospital's internal metrics, allowing clinicians to evaluate performance and reduce administrative tasks.

State of play: Nearly 90% of organizations reported using AI in at least one business function in 2025, up from 78% the year prior, according to McKinsey.

By the numbers: Global venture investment in business productivity software reached $295 billion in 2025, surpassing the prior peak of $184 billion in 2021, per PitchBook.

Catch up quick: Northslope is based in Denver and was founded by former Palantir forward-deployed engineers. The company raised a $6.78 million seed round in June 2025, also led by Friends & Family Capital.

"This feels like the early DNA of Palantir," Colin Anderson, partner at Friends & Family says.

Exclusive: Applied AI startup Northslope secures $22M

Palantir-native AI startup scales custom software

Northslope, a customized AI application developer, raised a $22 million Series A co-led by Friends &amp; Family Capital and Goldcrest Capital, CEO Bill Ward tells Axios exclusively.Why it matters: Companies are increasingly directing capital toward AI software designed to operate inside <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="specific workflows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ibm.com/think/insights/ai-investment-playbook-changing-whats-next" data-vars-content-id="ff759df5-d3c9-460d-a2c5-f7ae72557cd8" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Applied AI startup Northslope secures $22M" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ibm.com/think/insights/ai-investment-playbook-changing-whats-next" target="_blank">specific workflows</a>, rather than general-purpose tools.

Exclusive: Applied AI startup Northslope secures $22M

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