Sequoia Capital is making headlines for joining a significant funding round for Anthropic, the AI startup behind the Claude chatbot, breaking with traditional venture capital practices. Historically, VCs avoid backing multiple competitors, yet Sequoia, already invested in OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, is now adding Anthropic to its portfolio. This unexpected move follows OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s statements about maintaining confidentiality with investors, indicating a shift in Sequoia’s strategy. The funding round, led by Singapore’s GIC and Coatue, aims for $25 billion at a valuation of $350 billion, significantly up from previous figures. Sequoia’s deep ties with Altman further complicate its approach, given its past decision to withdraw from its $21 million investment in Finix over competitive conflicts. This shift comes amid leadership changes at Sequoia, potentially marking a new era for the firm as Anthropic prepares for a possible IPO this year.
Source link
Share
Read more