AI startup Anthropic is in the process of finalizing a substantial $3.5 billion funding round, which would elevate its valuation to an impressive $61.5 billion, according to two sources familiar with the situation. This valuation signifies a significant leap from the $18 billion value it had during a previous funding round led by Menlo Ventures last year. The startup is known for its Claude chatbot and is reportedly attracting interest from notable venture capital firms, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, General Catalyst, and Bessemer Venture Partners. This current funding effort is larger than the $2 billion Anthropic initially sought, reflecting strong investor confidence in artificial intelligence technologies.
Last year, a significant portion of venture capital funding in the United States, nearly half, was allocated to AI startups, highlighting the growing enthusiasm among investors for this fast-evolving technology sector. Even with the rising competition from China, particularly from DeepSeek, which has raised concerns among some investors, U.S. AI startups continue to draw significant backing. In this competitive landscape, Anthropic is seen as a strong contender, particularly as it positions itself against rivals like OpenAI, which is reportedly pursuing a massive funding round that could push its valuation to as high as $300 billion.
In addition to this funding round, Anthropic has recently unveiled a new advanced AI model called Claude 3.7 Sonnet. This model is designed to enhance user interactions by providing quicker responses and clearly demonstrating its reasoning process. This innovation aims to strengthen Anthropic’s competitive stance in the generative AI market. The company, co-founded by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, both former players at OpenAI, continues to make significant strides in artificial intelligence development.
