KEY POINTS
- AI startup Anthropic is finalizing a funding round expected to exceed $20 billion as early as next week.
- High investor demand pushed the funding target to double its original goal of $10 billion.
- The deal values the developer of the Claude chatbot at approximately $350 billion pre-money.
Anthropic is reportedly in the final stages of securing a massive new funding round. The artificial intelligence startup is expected to raise more than $20 billion. Sources indicate that the deal could be officially finalized as soon as next week.
The company initially aimed to raise $10 billion from interested investors. However, overwhelming market demand led Anthropic to double that specific target. This significant increase highlights the intense competition currently defining the generative AI sector.
The upcoming deal places a $350 billion pre-money valuation on the San Francisco-based firm. This figure represents a nearly twofold increase from its previous valuation of $183 billion. Such rapid growth cements Anthropic’s status as one of the world’s most valuable private companies.
Major technology giants are expected to provide a large portion of the capital. Reports suggest that Microsoft and Nvidia may contribute up to $15 billion combined. Other potential backers include high-profile firms like Sequoia Capital, Coatue Management, and GIC.
The funding comes at a time of rapid product expansion for the startup. Anthropic recently unveiled Claude Opus 4.6, a model designed for advanced financial and legal research. These new tools aim to automate complex tasks traditionally performed by human professionals.
The launch of these specialized AI tools has already impacted global markets. Several European and Indian software stocks saw sharp declines earlier this week. Investors fear that Anthropic’s new capabilities could disrupt traditional data and legal service providers.
In addition to the new capital, Anthropic is planning an employee share sale. This tender offer would allow staff to sell equity at the new $350 billion valuation. Such moves are often seen as a precursor to a potential initial public offering.
Anthropic’s revenue trajectory has been equally ambitious according to recent internal projections. The company reportedly expects its annual revenue to reach $55 billion by 2027. This growth is driven by increasing demand for its enterprise-grade AI assistant, Claude.
Despite the massive funding, the company continues to face high operational costs. Developing frontier AI models requires significant investment in specialized chips and cloud computing. Anthropic has already committed billions to using Microsoft’s Azure platform for its future needs.
The startup was founded in 2021 by former leaders from rival firm OpenAI. Since then, it has focused heavily on creating reliable and “steerable” AI systems. This safety-first approach has helped it attract large enterprise and public sector clients.
As the AI arms race intensifies, Anthropic is positioning itself as a primary challenger to ChatGPT. With $20 billion in fresh capital, the firm will have substantial resources to compete. The finalized deal will mark a historic milestone in the tech industry’s evolution.
