Holistic AI, a French startup spearheaded by former members of DeepMind, Google’s renowned AI lab, has successfully closed the first tranche of its initial financing round, raising a substantial $200 million, sources familiar with the deal have revealed. This funding round comprises $80 million in equity and $120 million in convertible debt earmarked for purchasing computing power, effectively valuing the company at $370 million.
Among the notable participants in this financing round are venture firm Accel Partners LP, renowned for its early investments in tech giants like Facebook and Dropbox, and UiPath Inc., a leading automation software company. Notably, investors Wendy and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, are also backing Holistic AI, underscoring the high-profile support the startup has garnered.
Founded by a cohort of scientists who departed from DeepMind, Holistic AI boasts an ambitious agenda. Led by Charles Kantor, a former venture resident at Stanford University’s business school, and four seasoned engineers with extensive experience at DeepMind, the startup is focused on pioneering “multi-agent” models wherein multiple AI systems interact with each other to achieve advanced capabilities.
Holistic AI’s mission revolves around developing AI models equipped with skills such as memory, planning, and tactical decision-making—areas where conventional AI systems have faced challenges. Described as aiming for “genuine AGI capabilities” in an investor presentation, the startup seeks to surpass existing large language models like OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s Gemini.
The startup’s strategic roadmap involves targeting various verticals and revenue streams beyond language processing, positioning itself as a pioneer in the advancement of AI technology. With plans to utilize the substantial funding to further train its models and expand into diverse markets, Holistic AI represents a significant player in the AI landscape, leveraging the expertise of its DeepMind alumni to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence.
