In today’s environment of economic uncertainty, characterized by persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions, and ongoing trade disputes, many investors hesitate to pursue aggressive growth opportunities. Despite these challenges, those who can maintain a long-term investment horizon may find valuable prospects by focusing on high-growth companies riding potent secular trends, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) space.
Two notable examples in this category are Figma and CoreWeave. Both firms exhibit considerable growth rates, are deeply embedded in the expanding AI market, and currently trade at valuations that suggest room for appreciation. This analysis explores why these companies might represent worthwhile investments through 2026 and beyond.
Figma: Expanding Cloud-Based Design Collaboration
Figma is a developer of cloud-enabled user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design tools that have gained significant traction. In 2024, the company saw a 45% year-over-year increase in the number of customers contributing at least $10,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR), reaching 10,517 such clients. Additionally, their cohort's net dollar retention rate modestly improved by 12 basis points to 134%, indicating strong customer engagement and upselling capabilities. Total revenue climbed 48% to $749 million during the same period.
What sets Figma apart is its fully web-based toolset, which users can operate without installing software locally. This architecture makes it lighter and more scalable in comparison to traditional UI/UX design products from established firms such as Adobe. Moreover, Figma's cloud-based collaboration features enable multiple stakeholders to work simultaneously on projects in real time, facilitating enhanced productivity.
The company offers a free service tier targeted at individuals and small teams, along with paid packages for larger organizations. Despite Adobe’s near acquisition of Figma for $20 billion in 2022—which ultimately failed due to antitrust regulatory concerns—Figma maintains a market capitalization of approximately $19 billion. This figure equates to roughly 15 times its forecasted 2026 sales, a valuation potentially justified by the company’s robust growth profile.
Analyst projections spanning 2024 to 2027 estimate that Figma will achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue of 27%, reaching $1.53 billion. Concurrently, its net losses are expected to decrease from $732 million to $331 million. The anticipated catalysts for this expansion include the rollout of AI-enhanced creation and workflow tools, an increasing array of third-party software integrations, and strategic international market entries.
CoreWeave: Scaling AI-Focused GPU Cloud Infrastructure
CoreWeave’s origins trace back to cryptocurrency mining, specifically Ethereum, until the 2018 crypto market downturn prompted it to pivot. The company transitioned to offering GPU-powered cloud computing solutions tailored for machine learning and AI processing tasks. Presently, it operates 33 data centers equipped predominantly with Nvidia’s high-performance data center GPUs, distributed across locations in the United States and Europe.
By outsourcing AI computations to CoreWeave’s cloud infrastructure, major AI software companies can circumvent the need to maintain costly on-premises servers and procure Nvidia GPUs individually. CoreWeave claims its specialized AI infrastructure delivers processing speeds roughly 35 times faster and is 80% more cost-efficient than larger, more generalized cloud service providers.
In 2024, CoreWeave achieved a revenue surge of 738%, reaching $1.92 billion. Analysts forecast an exceptional CAGR of 116% from 2024 through 2027, with revenue anticipated to hit $19.2 billion and profitability expected in the final projected year. This outlook derives from CoreWeave’s expanding contracts with major technology firms, including Microsoft and OpenAI, alongside ongoing plans to open additional data centers.
At a current market capitalization near $38 billion, CoreWeave trades at approximately three times its expected 2026 sales. This relatively modest valuation reflects investor concerns regarding the company’s increasing debt load and dilution from capital raises necessary to finance its rapid expansion. Nevertheless, successful execution of CoreWeave’s growth strategy could result in significant revaluation.
Conclusion
Figma and CoreWeave exemplify dynamic growth opportunities set against a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty. Both companies leverage cloud and AI technologies that address evolving market demands, underpinning their accelerated revenue growth. While investors should remain mindful of inherent risks such as regulatory hurdles in Figma’s case and balance sheet leverage for CoreWeave, these firms’ strong positioning suggests potential for meaningful returns for those with sufficient appetite for risk and time horizon.