Anthropic Secures $2.5B, Persona AI Raises $27M for Robotics, Granola Closes $43M Series B - AI Funding Brief #14

May 20, 2025 - AI Funding Brief
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Welcome to the latest edition of the AI Funding Brief, where we bring you the most recent developments in the world of AI investments and funding. This week, Anthropic has secured a substantial $2.5 billion credit facility to enhance its liquidity and growth in the AI sector. Meanwhile, Persona AI has raised $27 million to advance humanoid robotics for industrial applications, partnering with HD Hyundai for deployment. In the realm of AI notetaking, Granola has successfully closed a $43 million Series B funding round, aiming to introduce new collaboration tools for businesses.

In other news, Samaya AI has raised $43.5 million to develop AI tools for financial analysts, while Cognichip has secured $33 million to innovate in AI chip design. Additionally, AA-I Technologies has obtained $20-30 million in seed funding to create Artificial Expert Intelligence models. These stories highlight the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of AI funding, showcasing significant investments across various sectors and technologies.
Persona AI Secures $27M for Humanoid Robotics
Persona AI has raised $27 million in a pre-seed funding round to develop humanoid robots for shipbuilding and industrial manufacturing. The company plans to deploy these robots in partnership with HD Hyundai. Read more
Bat VC Launches $100 Million Fund for AI Startups
New York-based Bat VC has introduced a $100 million fund to support early-stage AI startups in India and the US, focusing on AI, fintech, and enterprise sectors. Read more
Granola Secures $43M in Series B Funding
AI notetaking app Granola has raised $43 million in a Series B funding round, enhancing its collaborative features for business users. Read more
Samaya AI Secures $43.5 Million for Financial AI Tools
Samaya AI, a startup developing AI tools for financial analysts, has raised $43.5 million in a funding round led by New Enterprise Associates. The company aims to enhance research and analysis capabilities in financial services. Read more
Anthropic Secures $2.5 Billion Credit Facility
Anthropic has announced a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility from major banks to support its growth in the AI market. The facility is backed by institutions like Morgan Stanley, Barclays, and Citibank. Read more
Cognichip Secures $33 Million for AI Chip Design
Cognichip, a startup from San Francisco, has raised $33 million in seed funding to advance its AI model for semiconductor design, aiming to cut costs and accelerate design cycles. Read more
AA-I Technologies Secures $20-30 Million in Seed Funding
AA-I Technologies, founded by Prof. Amnon Shashua, has raised $20-30 million in seed funding to develop Artificial Expert Intelligence models. Read more
Hedra Raises $32 Million in Series A Funding
AI startup Hedra has secured $32 million in a Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The funding aims to expand operations and enhance its market presence. Read more
OroraTech Secures €37 Million for Wildfire Digital Twin
Munich-based startup OroraTech has raised €37 million to develop a wildfire digital twin of the Earth, utilizing high-resolution thermal satellite data. Read more
A100x Launches $50 Million Fund II for AI and Blockchain
A100x has introduced its second fund, a $50 million initiative to support early stage companies in AI, digital assets, and blockchain, with 15 investments already made since mid-2024. Read more
Pathos AI Secures $365 Million for Oncology Drug Development
AI startup Pathos AI has raised $365 million in a Series D funding round to advance its platform for developing oncology drugs. The funding will aid in clinical trials and biomarker discovery using AI technology. Read more
Princeton Digital Group Secures $1.2 Billion for APAC Expansion
Princeton Digital Group has obtained $1.2 billion in financing to expand its data centers in Asia, targeting locations in Mumbai, Langfang, and Tokyo. Read more
Xoople Raises €115 Million for Earth Intelligence Tech
Spanish company Xoople has secured €115 million in funding to enhance its Earth intelligence technology, which uses geospatial data and AI to monitor changes on the Earth's surface. Read more
TensorWave Raises $100 Million in Series A Funding
TensorWave, a Las Vegas-based GPU cloud provider, has secured $100 million in a Series A funding round led by Magnetar and AMD Ventures. The funds will be used for operational growth and team expansion. Read more
Openlayer Secures $14.5 Million for AI Governance
Openlayer has raised $14.5 million in a Series A funding round to enhance its AI evaluation and governance platform. The funding will support product expansion and market reach, focusing on responsible AI deployment for enterprises. Read more

Mergers & Acquisitions

Cohere has acquired Ottogrid to enhance market research automation, while Together AI boosts its AI development capabilities by acquiring Refuel.ai. Scrypted Inc. integrates AI into gaming with the acquisition of Chibi Clash, and 1848 Ventures expands into home management by acquiring Luminest. Anaqua strengthens its IP management in EMEA with RightHub, and Visma enhances HR solutions by acquiring Lara AI. Salesforce plans to acquire Convergence.ai to advance its AI strategy, while SentinelOne invests in Theom.ai for data security. Qiagen acquires Genoox for $80 million to improve genetic testing, and Red Hat integrates Jounce for AI cloud expansion. Databricks enhances serverless Postgres with Neon, Invene boosts healthcare AI with Guidea, and Virtana enhances observability with Zenoss.

IPO's & Market Moves

CHAI is projected to reach a $1.4 billion valuation by 2026, driven by a 250% revenue increase. CoreWeave plans a $1.5 billion senior notes offering for corporate purposes. Pony AI has filed for a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing to support its business expansion.

Other Funding News

Harvey AI is negotiating a $250 million funding round to boost its valuation to $5 billion, with participation from Kleiner Perkins and Coatue. The European Commission has granted €45 million to a Patria-led consortium for the AI-WASP project to enhance military systems. Moonvalley has raised an additional $10 million, bringing its total funding to $124 million for its AI video tools. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and Cosmos Institute have launched a $1 million grant program for open-source AI projects.

Startup Funding

ThriveAI has secured $1.2 million in funding and launched an AI product manager, while DiffuseDrive raised €3.15 million for its AI data platform. Cyera is raising funds at a $6 billion valuation, and Oath Surgical launched with $10 million funding. RoboForce unveiled its AI robot 'Titan' with $15 million in funding, and Smartex secured funding from H&M and Amazon. Metafoodx raised $9.4 million for AI 3D scanning tech, and Google introduced the AI Futures Fund for startups.

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