Anthropic is nearing a $3.5 billion funding round, elevating its valuation to $61.5 billion, surpassing Elon Musk’s xAI. Key investors include Lightspeed Venture Partners and Google, following substantial previous investments. In comparison, OpenAI seeks a $40 billion funding, potentially reaching a $260 billion valuation. Anthropic’s growth reflects a dynamic AI investment landscape.
Anthropic, the AI enterprise known for its Claude assistant, is on the brink of closing a monumental $3.5 billion funding round, projecting a robust valuation of $61.5 billion, as revealed by The Wall Street Journal. Key contributors to this investment include notable names like Lightspeed Venture Partners, General Catalyst, Bessemer Venture Partners, and the investment firm MGX from Abu Dhabi.
In February 2024, Anthropic was valued at $18.5 billion. The newly anticipated funding round not only surpasses Elon Musk’s xAI, valued at a mere $50 million last November following a $6 billion Series C, but also positions Anthropic significantly closer to its archrival OpenAI. OpenAI, meanwhile, is seeking $40 billion from SoftBank, aiming for a staggering valuation of $260 billion.
The momentum of this funding comes swiftly on the heels of a $1 billion raise from Google, its previous investor, who initially contributed $2 billion in October 2023. This latest infusion of capital builds on earlier reports about ongoing discussions to secure $2 billion under Lightspeed’s guidance, boosting Anthropic’s worth closer to $60 billion.
Additionally, this financial boost follows Amazon’s commitment of another $4 billion to Anthropic, which marked a continuation of their previous $4 billion investment plan in 2023. This strategic investment solidified Amazon’s minority stake in the AI venture amidst a rapid rise in competitive funding within the sector.
Anthropic is set to further solidify its position in the AI industry with a new $3.5 billion funding round that values the company at an impressive $61.5 billion. With a combination of investments from top venture capital firms and significant backers like Google and Amazon, Anthropic is not just catching up to rivals but also establishing itself as a formidable player in the AI landscape. As the competition heats up, the future of AI investment continues to exhibit explosive growth.
Original Source: news.crunchbase.com
