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💡Thinking Machines Eyes $1B Fundraise at $40B Valuation

AI Startup Seeks $1B at $40B Valuation

TL;DR

AI startup Thinking Machines is in talks to raise $1B at a $40B valuation, down from its $50B target. The company's revenue run rate is over $100M, with backing from top investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Nvidia.

Thinking Machines is in discussions to raise $1 billion at a valuation of at least $40 billion, down from its previous target of $50 billion. This round would value the company based on its $100 million annual revenue run rate, reflecting an extraordinarily high revenue multiple. Investors are backing the round largely due to the company's pedigree and the involvement of former OpenAI researchers. The new valuation, while still astronomical, reflects a more conservative approach to funding, considering recent market conditions and the high-profile departures of some co-founders.

Thinking Machines Eyes $1B Fundraise at $40B Valuation — TechCrunch

Key Points

1

Thinking Machines is in discussions to raise $1 billion at a $40 billion valuation, down from its previous $50 billion target.

2

The company's annual revenue run rate stands at over $100 million, reflecting an extraordinarily high revenue multiple.

3

Investors backing the round include Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, GV, Lightspeed, and Conviction Partners.

4

The company's revenue run rate is over $100 million, indicating strong financial performance despite market volatility.

5

Thinking Machines introduced Inkling, an open-weight model generating revenue through usage-based compute fees.

Why It Matters

If you're an AI startup founder or investor, this valuation drop is a reality check. The $40 billion valuation, while still massive, shows that even top-tier AI companies are adjusting to market realities. For investors, this means a more conservative approach to funding, focusing on revenue multiples and financial performance rather than hype. For startups, it's a reminder that high-profile backing and pedigree are crucial but not enough without solid financials.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

If you're an AI startup founder or investor, this valuation drop is a reality check. The $40 billion valuation, while still massive, shows that even top-tier AI companies are adjusting to market realities. For investors, this means a more conservative approach to funding, focusing on revenue multiples and financial performance rather than hype. For startups, it's a reminder that high-profile backing and pedigree are crucial but not enough without solid financials.

What happened?

AI startup Thinking Machines is in talks to raise $1B at a $40B valuation, down from its $50B target. The company's revenue run rate is over $100M, with backing from top investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Nvidia.

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