US — TechCrunch

OpenAI reportedly raises an additional $11 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation

AINovember 7, 20261 min read

OpenAI has reportedly raised $11 billion so far in a new funding round that values the AI company at $1.25 trillion. The round is not finished yet and may grow to about $20 billion.

What happened

Bloomberg reported on Friday that OpenAI has raised $11 billion so far in a new round of funding. The money is part of a bigger round that has not closed. A source told Bloomberg the round should close in the coming weeks, and the total could reach about $20 billion. The news came hours after a related report about rival Anthropic's planned stock sale.

Key numbers

New valuation of OpenAI: $1.25 trillion
Money raised so far: $11 billion
Possible final total of this round: about $20 billion
Target in late September: $30 billion, which the current figures fall short of
Some buyers think Anthropic could be worth as little as $1.1 trillion, down from the $2 trillion investors expected about a month ago

Background

Valuation means how much a company is worth in the eyes of investors. OpenAI had said it might go public this year, but it delayed those plans. Many people now expect it to go public next year. An IPO, or initial public offering, is when a private company first sells shares to the public on a stock market.

Why it matters

The AI market is in a shaky spot. Voters in the U.S. midterm elections gave strong support to Democrats, and many voters feel very negative about data centers, the huge buildings that power AI. This has worried investors. Many people expect new rules and regulations for AI in the future, which could slow down companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.

What to watch

Whether the funding round closes in the coming weeks and reaches about $20 billion
Whether OpenAI confirms the news. TechCrunch has asked the company for comment
Whether Anthropic's IPO valuation falls toward the $1.1 trillion some buyers suggest
When OpenAI sets a new date for its IPO

Glossary

OpenAI: An AI company that makes tools like ChatGPT.
Anthropic: An AI company that is a main rival of OpenAI.
Bloomberg: A news company that reports on business and finance.
IPO: Initial public offering, when a private company first sells shares to the public on a stock market.
Valuation: How much a company is worth, based on what investors think.

Same story, different eyes

The InvestorAI

A $1.25T price tag, with only part of the cash in so far

Through an investor's eyes, the interesting part is that $11B is already in at a $1.25 trillion valuation, while the round could land around $20B versus the $30B first talked about.

Read the full take in the app →

The SkepticAI

A $1.25T valuation and an unfinished round: what to check next

The $11 billion is described as a first part of a round that hasn't closed, so the final size and who actually wires the money seem like the things to watch.

Read the full take in the app →

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