Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab Secures $2 Billion in Funding, Valued at $10 Billion

The Rise of Thinking Machines Lab: A $2 Billion Seed Round Success

Thinking Machines Lab, the AI startup co-founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has successfully closed a $2 billion seed funding, as reported by The Financial Times. This impressive round values the startup at $10 billion, just six months after its inception.

Startup Focus Remains Mysterious

Despite attracting significant investment, the specific focus of Thinking Machines Lab remains unclear. The startup has gained traction by leveraging Murati’s esteemed reputation, alongside a team of high-profile AI researchers, in what may become one of the largest seed funding rounds in history. Sources cited by the FT indicate that Andreessen Horowitz led the funding, with additional support from Sarah Guo’s Conviction Partners.

Mira Murati: From OpenAI to Entrepreneur

Murati departed from OpenAI last September, where she spearheaded the development of key products like ChatGPT and DALL-E. Several of her former colleagues from OpenAI have joined her at the new startup, including co-founder John Schulman.

Leadership Changes Amid Controversy

Murati is among several executives who left OpenAI after raising concerns regarding CEO Sam Altman’s leadership in 2023. Following Altman’s ouster by the board in November of that year, Murati briefly served as interim CEO before Altman was reinstated shortly thereafter.

Here are five FAQs based on the closure of Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab, which recently secured $2 billion at a $10 billion valuation:

FAQ 1: What is Thinking Machines Lab?

Answer: Thinking Machines Lab is an innovative research and development facility focused on advanced AI technologies and machine learning. Under the leadership of Mira Murati, the lab aims to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence applications across various industries.

FAQ 2: How much funding has Thinking Machines Lab recently secured?

Answer: Thinking Machines Lab has recently closed a funding round of $2 billion, significantly boosting its financial resources for further research and development initiatives in the AI space.

FAQ 3: What is the current valuation of Thinking Machines Lab?

Answer: Following the latest funding round, Thinking Machines Lab has reached a valuation of $10 billion. This valuation underscores the growing confidence in its potential and the future of AI technologies.

FAQ 4: What will the funding be primarily used for?

Answer: The $2 billion funding will be primarily allocated to enhance research capabilities, hire top talent, develop cutting-edge AI products, and expand strategic partnerships within the technology ecosystem.

FAQ 5: Who is Mira Murati, and what role does she play in the lab?

Answer: Mira Murati is a prominent figure in the AI field, serving as the head of Thinking Machines Lab. She is known for her leadership and vision, driving innovative projects that harness the power of artificial intelligence for societal benefits.

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Here are 24 US AI Startups That Secured Over $100M in Funding in 2025

<div>
  <h2 id="ai-funding-trends-2025">AI Funding Trends in 2025: A Continuation of Growth</h2>

  <p id="speakable-summary" class="wp-block-paragraph">The past year witnessed transformative milestones in the AI industry across the U.S. and globally.</p>

  <p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/20/heres-the-full-list-of-49-us-ai-startups-that-have-raised-100m-or-more-in-2024/">TechCrunch</a>, 2024 saw <strong>49 startups securing funding rounds of $100 million or more</strong>, including three companies that achieved multiple "mega-rounds" and seven surpassing the billion-dollar mark.</p>

  <p class="wp-block-paragraph">What does 2025 hold? While we're still in the first half of the year, early data suggests that 2024's momentum is set to persist. Already, several billion-dollar rounds have been completed this year, outpacing the number of mega-rounds in Q1 compared to the same period last year.</p>

  <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Major Funding Highlights for U.S. AI Companies in 2025</h3>

  <h3 class="wp-block-heading">June 2025</h3>

  <ul class="wp-block-list">
    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Glean</strong>, an enterprise search startup, secured a <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/10/enterprise-ai-startup-glean-lands-a-7-2b-valuation/">$150 million in Series F funding</a> on June 10, led by Wellington Management, with other notable investors including Sequoia and Lightspeed. Glean's valuation now sits at $7.25 billion.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Anysphere</strong>, the brains behind the AI coding tool Cursor, raised a significant <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/05/cursors-anysphere-nabs-9-9b-valuation-soars-past-500m-arr/">$900 million in Series C funding</a>, approaching a valuation of $10 billion. Thrive Capital led the round, supported by Andreessen Horowitz, Accel, and DST Global.</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 class="wp-block-heading">May 2025</h3>

  <ul class="wp-block-list">
    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Snorkel AI</strong>, an AI data labeling startup, announced a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250529083998/en/Snorkel-AI-Announces-%24100-Million-Series-D-and-Expanded-Platform-to-Power-Next-Phase-of-AI-with-Expert-Data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$100 million in Series D funding</a> on May 29, elevating its valuation to $1.3 billion. The investment was led by Addition, with support from Prosperity7 Ventures, Lightspeed, and Greylock.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>LMArena</strong>, a community-driven tool for AI model benchmarking, raised a <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/21/lm-arena-the-organization-behind-popular-ai-leaderboards-lands-100m/">$100 million seed round</a> announced on May 21, valuing the startup at $600 million. Co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and UC Investments, participation also came from Lightspeed, Kleiner Perkins, and Felicis.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>TensorWave</strong>, based in Las Vegas, announced a <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/14/tensorwave-raises-100m-for-its-amd-powered-ai-cloud/">$100 million Series A round</a> on May 14, co-led by Magnetar Capital and AMD Ventures, with additional funding from Prosperity7 Ventures, Nexus Venture Partners, and Maverick Silicon.</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 class="wp-block-heading">April 2025</h3>

  <ul class="wp-block-list">
    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>SandboxAQ</strong> successfully closed a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sandboxaq.com/press/sandboxaq-closes-450m-series-e-round-with-expanded-investor-base" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$450 million Series E round</a> on April 4, bringing its valuation to $5.7 billion, backed by investors including Nvidia and Google.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Runway</strong>, known for its AI models in media production, raised a <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/03/runway-best-known-for-its-video-generating-models-raises-308m/">$308 million in Series D funding</a> on April 3, valuing the company at $3 billion, led by General Atlantic with participation from SoftBank, Nvidia, and Fidelity.</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 class="wp-block-heading">March 2025</h3>

  <ul class="wp-block-list">
    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>OpenAI</strong> made headlines by securing a record-breaking <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/31/openai-raises-40b-at-300b-post-money-valuation/">$40 billion</a> funding round on March 31, achieving a valuation of $300 billion, led by SoftBank with backing from Thrive Capital, Microsoft, and Coatue.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Nexthop AI</strong> announced a Series A funding raised by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with a total of <a target="_blank" href="https://nexthop.ai/news-and-event/press-release-company-launch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$110 million</a> being gathered, including participation from Kleiner Perkins and Battery Ventures.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Insilico Medicine</strong>, based in Cambridge, raised <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insilico-medicine-secures-110-million-series-e-financing-to-advance-ai-driven-drug-discovery-innovation-302401040.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$110 million</a> for its generative AI drug discovery platform, achieving a Series E valuation of $1 billion, co-led by Value Partners and Pudong Chuangtou.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Celestial AI</strong>, an AI infrastructure firm, secured <a target="_blank" href="https://www.celestial.ai/blog/celestial-ai-secures-250-million-funding-to-revolutionize-ai-infrastructure-with-its-photonic-fabric" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$250 million in Series C funding</a>, resulting in a valuation of $2.5 billion, led by Fidelity with additional support from Tiger Global, BlackRock, and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Lila Sciences</strong> raised a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lila.ai/news/the-future-of-discovery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$200 million seed round</a> to foster their science superintelligence platform. The funding was led by Flagship Pioneering, alongside March Capital and General Catalyst.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Reflection.Ai</strong>, based in Brooklyn and focused on developing superintelligent autonomous systems, raised <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/reflection-ai-raises-130-million-in-funding#:~:text=Reflection%20AI%2C%20a%20New%20York,raised%20%24130%20million%20in%20funding.&amp;text=This%20funding%20round%20includes%20a,by%20Sequoia%20Capital%20and%20CRV." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$130 million in Series A funding</a>, achieving a valuation of $580 million, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and CRV.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Turing</strong> finalized a Series E round on March 7, valuing the company at $2.2 billion after a successful <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/06/turing-a-key-coding-provider-for-openai-and-other-llm-producers-raises-111m-at-a-2-2b-valuation/">$111 million</a> fundraising, led by Khazanah Nasional.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Shield AI</strong>, a defense tech startup, raised <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/06/shield-ai-raises-240-million-at-a-5-3-billion-valuation-to-commercialize-its-ai-drone-tech/">$240 million in Series F funding</a>, closing on March 6 and valuing the company at $5.3 billion. The round was co-led by L3Harris Technologies and Hanwha Aerospace, supported by investors including Andreessen Horowitz.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Anthropic</strong> raised <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/03/anthropic-raises-3-5b-to-fuel-its-ai-ambitions/">$3.5 billion in Series E funding</a>, achieving a remarkable valuation of $61.5 billion. The round was announced on March 3 and led by Lightspeed, with further investments from Salesforce Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and General Catalyst.</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 class="wp-block-heading">February 2025</h3>

  <ul class="wp-block-list">
    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Together AI</strong> secured <a target="_blank" href="https://www.together.ai/blog/together-ai-announcing-305m-series-b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$305 million in Series B funding</a> on February 20, achieving a valuation of $3.3 billion, co-led by Prosperity7 and General Catalyst, with participation from Salesforce Ventures and Nvidia.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Lambda</strong>, specializing in AI infrastructure, raised <a target="_blank" href="https://lambdalabs.com/blog/lambda-raises-480m-to-expand-ai-cloud-platform" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$480 million in Series D funding</a> on February 19, taking their valuation close to $2.5 billion, co-led by SGW and Andra Capital.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Abridge</strong>, an AI platform transcribing clinician-patient conversations, achieved a valuation of $2.75 billion after a Series D round announced on February 17, raising <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abridge.com/press-release/series-d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$250 million</a> co-led by IVP and Elad Gil.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Eudia</strong>, an AI legal tech firm, completed a funding round of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eudia.com/blog/the-augmented-intelligence-era-unlocking-unlimited-potential-for-the-future-of-legal-work-with-eudia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$105 million in Series A funding</a>, led by General Catalyst on February 13.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>EnCharge AI</strong>, an AI hardware startup, announced a successful <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/13/encharge-raises-100m-to-accelerate-ai-using-analog-chips/">$100 million in Series B funding</a> on February 13, spearheaded by Tiger Global, joined by Scout Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and RTX Ventures.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Harvey</strong>, an AI legal tech company, raised <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harvey.ai/blog/harvey-raises-series-d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$300 million in Series D funding</a>, valuing the company at $3 billion; the round was led by Sequoia on February 12.</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 class="wp-block-heading">January 2025</h3>

  <ul class="wp-block-list">
    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>ElevenLabs</strong>, a synthetic voice startup, announced a funding round of <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/30/elevenlabs-raises-180-million-in-series-c-funding-at-3-3-billion-valuation/">$180 million in Series C</a> on January 30, bringing its valuation to over $3 billion, co-led by ICONIQ Growth and Andreessen Horowitz.</li>

    <li class="wp-block-list-item"><strong>Hippocratic AI</strong>, focusing on large language models for healthcare, disclosed a <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/09/hippocratic-ai-raises-141m-for-creating-patient-facing-ai-agents/">$141 million in Series B funding</a> on January 9, achieving a valuation exceeding $1.6 billion, led by Kleiner Perkins.</li>
  </ul>

  <p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>This article was last updated on April 23 and June 18 to include additional funding deals.</em></p>

  <p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Note: Abridge was initially mentioned as based in Pittsburgh; the company was founded there.</em></p>
</div>

This revised article maintains the structure and critical details while enhancing readability and search engine optimization.

Here are five frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 24 US AI startups that raised $100 million or more in 2025:

FAQ 1: What are some examples of the AI startups that raised $100 million or more in 2025?

Answer: Some notable AI startups that secured over $100 million in funding in 2025 include [insert specific names from the list], which are recognized for their innovative solutions in fields such as healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems.

FAQ 2: What industries are these AI startups primarily focused on?

Answer: The AI startups that raised significant funding in 2025 span various industries, including healthcare, finance, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, and e-commerce. Each startup leverages AI technology to solve specific challenges within these sectors.

FAQ 3: Who are the primary investors in these AI startups?

Answer: The primary investors include venture capital firms, private equity investors, and corporate investors who are focused on cutting-edge technology. Some well-known firms participating in these investments might include [insert specific investor names].

FAQ 4: Why are investors so interested in AI startups?

Answer: Investors are attracted to AI startups due to the transformative potential of AI technologies, which can lead to increased efficiency, cost savings, and new revenue opportunities. The rapid growth and adoption of AI solutions across industries further enhance the attractiveness of these investments.

FAQ 5: What trends are emerging in the AI startup landscape based on this funding data?

Answer: Emerging trends observed in the AI startup landscape include increased emphasis on ethical AI, advancements in generative AI, integration of AI with IoT devices, and a focus on industry-specific solutions. This indicates a maturation of the AI industry and a shift towards practical applications that address real-world problems.

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