Tag: private equity

Anthropic, the maker of the Claude AI models, is negotiating a new financing round that could bring in at least $30 billion at a pre‑money valuation exceeding $900 billion. If the deal closes, it would eclipse OpenAI’s latest market cap and mark the largest private raise in the company’s history. The round is still in discussion, with no term sheet signed, and could be finalized by month’s end. The funding would extend Anthropic’s aggressive growth plan, fund compute needs ahead of a possible October IPO, and cement its position as the sector’s most valuable private AI firm. Leggi di più

OpenAI announced Monday that it will acquire Tomoro, the Edinburgh‑based AI consulting firm it helped create in 2023. The deal makes Tomoro the founding acquisition of OpenAI’s new Deployment Company, a $14 billion subsidiary funded by a consortium of private‑equity firms. The move signals OpenAI’s shift from selling models to installing them, deploying forward‑deployed engineers inside client organizations to bridge the gap between AI capability and enterprise adoption. Leggi di più

Anthropic announced Monday that it is forming a $1.5 billion joint venture with Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman and Goldman Sachs to market its AI tools to corporate clients. Hours later, OpenAI disclosed a parallel effort, the Development Company, backed by $4 billion from 19 investors and valued at $10 billion. Both initiatives aim to give alternative asset managers preferred access to AI contracts while providing the labs with capital to expand engineering teams and embed technology directly into customer workflows. Leggi di più

High‑net‑worth families are stepping into the AI arena, investing directly in startups instead of routing money through venture‑capital firms. Arena Private Wealth recently co‑led a $230 million round for AI chip maker Positron, marking a shift toward active participation in early‑stage deals. The move reflects a broader sentiment among family offices: exposure to AI is now a top strategic priority, and missing the wave could be riskier than any single investment loss. Leggi di più

DiligenceSquared, a YC Fall 2025 cohort startup, is offering private‑equity firms AI‑driven commercial research that rivals traditional consulting at a fraction of the price. Co‑founders Frederik Hansen and Søren Biltoft apply their deep PE diligence experience to run AI voice interviews with target company customers, while senior human consultants verify the insights. The model enables firms to obtain detailed, consultant‑quality reports for as little as $50,000, prompting earlier engagement in deal pipelines. Backed by a $5 million seed round led by former Index Ventures partner Damir Becirovic, the company competes with firms like Bridgetown Research. Leggi di più

A wave of venture capital firms is investing in both OpenAI and its competitor Anthropic, challenging the traditional notion of investor loyalty. Major investors such as Founders Fund, Iconiq, Insight Partners, and Sequoia Capital have appeared in Anthropic’s recent funding round, while also backing OpenAI. The involvement of BlackRock affiliates, despite a senior BlackRock executive serving on OpenAI’s board, adds another layer of complexity. This dual‑investment trend raises questions about fiduciary responsibilities, board seat conflicts, and the evolving dynamics of private AI funding. Leggi di più

OpenAI announced an ownership stake in private‑equity firm Thrive Holdings, a move that involves no cash outlay but provides Thrive’s portfolio companies with OpenAI employees, models, products, and services. The partnership focuses on transforming high‑volume, rules‑driven processes in IT services and accounting, aiming to boost speed, accuracy, and cost efficiency. Thrive CEO Joshua Kushner highlighted AI’s potential to reshape industries from the inside out, while OpenAI’s leadership described the deal as a new model for collaboration with private‑equity groups. The arrangement also gives OpenAI access to data that could enhance future AI training. Leggi di più