Funding

Thrive Capital has reportedly invested $1 billion in OpenAI at a $285 billion valuation, reinforcing its status as a key backer. This is separate from OpenAI’s ongoing, potentially $100+ billion funding round aiming for an $800 billion valuation, in which Thrive is also expected to participate. OpenAI also acquired a stake in Thrive Holdings. The large funding round, expected to involve Nvidia, SoftBank, and Amazon early on, highlights immense confidence in AI’s future.

Axiom Space has secured $350 million in funding, co-led by the Qatar sovereign wealth fund. This capital will accelerate the development of its commercial space station and enhance its advanced spacesuit capabilities for lunar missions. The investment reflects strong investor confidence in Axiom’s role in the growing space economy, including its participation in NASA’s Artemis program and its collaboration with SpaceX for future orbital presence.

Anthropic has secured a record $30 billion funding round, valuing the AI company at $380 billion. This substantial investment highlights the immense demand for advanced AI and fuels an intensifying competition with rivals like OpenAI and Google. The capital will support infrastructure expansion, research, and the development of enterprise-focused AI solutions, particularly its Claude AI assistant and coding tools, which are driving significant revenue growth.

Oportun has secured $485 million in asset-backed securities, a deal with a 5.25% weighted average coupon, which is 45 basis points lower than its previous transaction. This marks their fourth consecutive securitization priced below 6%, demonstrating improved funding costs and balance sheet strength. The company also repaid $70 million in corporate debt in 2025, further enhancing its financial flexibility.

Databricks secured $5 billion in funding at a $134 billion valuation, fueled by its AI boom. The company’s annualized revenue surpassed $5.4 billion, showing 65% year-over-year growth and achieving positive free cash flow. This strong financial performance and substantial AI-driven revenue position Databricks for a potential IPO, with CEO Ali Ghodsi suggesting readiness when the time is right. The funding round included major investors and debt financing, solidifying Databricks’ dominance in the data and AI market.

AI audio firm ElevenLabs has raised $500 million at an $11 billion valuation, led by Sequoia Capital and with participation from Nvidia and other major investors. The company, founded in 2022, offers a broad suite of AI audio solutions, including text-to-speech, dubbing, and conversational AI. With over $330 million in ARR for 2025, ElevenLabs plans to expand internationally and focus on reshaping human-technology interaction, eyeing a future IPO. This funding round reflects significant investor confidence in the booming AI sector.

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, has secured $16 billion in funding, boosting its valuation to $126 billion. This significant capital will fuel Waymo’s expansion into new U.S. and international markets, including London. The company emphasizes its safety record and aims for global scale, despite recent operational challenges and ongoing investigations into incidents. This funding round saw participation from both existing and new investors.

Amazon is reportedly in advanced talks to invest up to $50 billion in AI firm OpenAI, signaling a significant commitment to the AI landscape. This follows Amazon’s substantial investment in OpenAI’s competitor, Anthropic. The potential deal, still under finalization, could see OpenAI utilize Amazon’s AI chips. OpenAI is also exploring other funding avenues, aiming for a total round of around $100 billion. This aggressive AI push by Amazon involves considerable capital allocation and cost-cutting measures.