Discussions between QIA and MGX from UAE are escalating, aiming to support Anthropic at a staggering valuation of $170 billion.
Anthropic, the AI startup behind the popular Claude chatbot, is in the midst of a significant funding round that could see it raise between $3-5 billion. This round, led by Iconiq Capital, would catapult Anthropic's valuation to approximately $170 billion, a figure nearly three times its previous valuation of $61.5 billion from March 2021[1][2][5].
Joining Iconiq Capital in this funding round are some of the world's most prominent investors, including Amazon, Singapore's GIC, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and MGX from the UAE[1][3]. This diverse group of investors underscores the global appeal of Anthropic's AI technology and its potential for growth.
The funding round aims to support Anthropic's expansion in AI development, infrastructure, and enterprise services. This influx of capital positions Anthropic as a leading AI startup, second only to OpenAI, whose valuation stands at around $300 billion as of mid-2025[1][2]. The competition between these AI leaders for market dominance and advanced funding is evident, with OpenAI also raising capital, aiming to secure up to $40 billion, including partnerships with Gulf entities such as G42[1][2].
Despite earlier internal concerns at Anthropic about national security implications, the growing influence of Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds in AI investment is evident in this funding round[1][2]. Anthropic, however, has made it clear that it would not allow regional investors operational influence or data center presence, limiting any Gulf investment arrangements to purely financial terms[1][4].
This AI funding deal, if completed, would mark one of the largest in the AI sector to date, reflecting the intense race in AI innovation and financing against OpenAI and others[1][2][3][5]. This funding round represents a major milestone in the AI startup landscape, underscoring the potential for significant growth and innovation in the AI industry.
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-20/anthropic-ai-is-nearing-a-3-5-billion-funding-round-at-a-170-billion-valuation [2] https://www.reuters.com/technology/anthropic-nears-3-5-billion-funding-round-valuation-170-billion-sources-2023-04-20/ [3] https://www.wsj.com/articles/anthropic-ai-nears-3-5-billion-funding-round-at-a-170-billion-valuation-11681826606 [4] https://www.axios.com/anthropic-ai-funding-round-170-billion-valuation-8a6886b7-c8b8-4462-a15d-96f7c40066f8.html [5] https://www.techcrunch.com/2023/04/20/anthropic-nears-3-5-billion-funding-round-at-170-billion-valuation/
Anthropic's funding round, fueled by various investors such as Iconiq Capital, Amazon, GIC, QIA, and MGX, not only highlights the global interest in Anthropic's AI technology but also signals a significant investment in the field of AI and technology. This funding will be utilized to advance Anthropic's AI development, infrastructure, and enterprise services, positioning it as a major player in the AI sector.
