Enterprises are accelerating the deployment of AI agents at an unprecedented pace, with 80% of executives considering it a strategic priority, according to a late-2025 survey of 59 executives by CB Insights. However, a critical gap exists as 40% of organizations admit they cannot track or are unaware of the actual return on investment (ROI), highlighting a mismatch between enthusiasm and measurement as deployments move from pilots to full-scale production.
This gap is fueling demand for specialized infrastructure in three emerging markets: observability and evaluation, memory management, and AI cost management software. These segments, characterized by low commercial maturity but high innovation momentum, are positioned for rapid expansion. Observability and evaluation is currently the most dynamic generative AI market tracked by CB Insights, leading in deal activity. Over 75 companies are active in this space, many backed by Y Combinator, tackling "silent failures" where agents underperform without detection. Recent acquisitions, like Snyk's purchase of Invariant Labs and Coralogix's acquisition of Aporia, show incumbents embedding these capabilities. Startups such as Braintrust, Vijil, and Coval are automating testing and validation.
Memory management addresses the lack of persistent context in complex workflows, a market with 19 specialized vendors (84% founded since 2022). Key players like Mem0, Letta, and Mastra are creating context-aware agents. AI cost management software bridges the visibility gap between technical spend and business outcomes, with tools from players like Pay-i and Revenium mapping agent activity to KPIs like productivity gains (63%) and cost reductions (58%).
Parallel to this, a new wave of early-stage startups is emerging to fix the growing pains of scaling AI, as highlighted in CB Insights' latest Early-Stage Trends Report. Drawing from over 2,500 early-stage deals, the report identifies four key themes. A distinct new category is forming around security platforms for autonomous AI agents, with 21 tracked startups. Leading firm 7AI, founded by former Cybereason leader Lior Div, boasts a high Mosaic score of 799. This cohort shows an average M&A probability of 55%, suggesting imminent acquisition interest.
Other trends include AI "scientists" in life sciences slashing R&D timelines (e.g., Edison Scientific's $70M seed round), tools for managing risks in AI-assisted coding (e.g., Resolve AI's $125M Series A), and investments in energy-efficient neuromorphic computing (e.g., Unconventional AI's $465M seed at a $4.5B valuation). Collectively, these trends signal a maturing ecosystem where infrastructure is catching up to strategic objectives, enabling enterprises to scale AI agents confidently and unlock clearer ROI.
