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Top 10 best-funded AI companies in 2024
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Top 10 best-funded AI companies in 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to attract significant investment, with companies in the sector raising substantial funds to drive innovation and expand their reach.

According to the report of WriterBuddyThe 50 largest AI companies raised a total of $52.8 billion in 2024, a 600% increase from 2020, with $20.7 billion raised in 2023 alone. of these companies amounts to $358.37 billion, reflecting the strong market confidence in the AI ​​sector. AI infrastructure and models emerged as the most funded sector, attracting $35.5 billion, or 67% of total funding, followed by data and analytics ($5.9 billion) and defense and security ($3.8 billion).

Geographically, US-based companies dominated, securing $49.4 billion, or 94% of total funding, with California being the top AI hub, attracting $47.9 billion. France follows far behind, with $1.3 billion raised by its AI startups. The influence of former Google employees has been significant, with 14 companies founded by former Google employees raising $14.7 billion, or 28% of total funding, as their combined valuation reached $71.61 billion. .

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The most funded startups include OpenAI with $21.9 billion, Anthropic with $9.7 billion, and Databricks with $4 billion. Among the 50 largest companies, 29 have reached unicorn status, with OpenAI valued at $157 billion, Databricks at $43 billion, and Anthropic at $40 billion. Notable leaders in the field of AI include Sam Altman of OpenAI, Ali Ghodsi of Databricks, and Dario Amodei of Anthropic, each playing a central role in shaping the future of the sector.

Here are the top 10 best-funded AI companies in 2024

1. Open AI

OpenAI leads the global AI funding landscape, with a total of $21.9 billion secured to date. In 2024, it raised $10.6 billion, highlighting the global interest in generative AI and its applications. OpenAI’s ability to secure nearly half of the funding among the top 10 companies demonstrates its central role in advancing AI technologies.

2. Anthropic

Anthropic, founded in 2020, has quickly grown to become one of the most well-funded AI startups, securing a total of $9.7 billion. In 2024 alone, the company has raised $2.1 billion. Known for its focus on AI security and alignment, Anthropic continues to attract investors confident in its long-term potential.

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3. Data Bricks

Databricks, founded in 2013, has accumulated $4.0 billion in funding. Although funding momentum has slowed since 2021, when it raised $2.6 billion, the company remains a leader in AI-driven data analytics and cloud computing. Its maturity stage reflects its position as a key player in data and AI infrastructure.

4. Anduril Industries

Anduril Industries, specializing in AI applications in defense and security, has raised a total of $3.7 billion. The company secured $1.5 billion in 2023 and 2024, reflecting investors’ continued confidence in its technologies, which include surveillance systems and autonomous solutions for national security.

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5. Evolve AI

Scale AI has raised $1.6 billion to date, with $1.0 billion secured in 2024. The company plays a critical role in providing scalable and reliable datasets for AI training, thereby meeting to a growing demand for high-quality data to power machine learning models.

6. Mistral AI

Founded in 2023, Mistral AI quickly rose to prominence by raising $1.2 billion in funding. The company’s focus on generative AI and large models positions it as a serious contender in the competitive AI landscape.

Read also: The 15 Most Popular Generative AI Tools That Will Shape 2024

7. Cohere

Cohere has raised $942.9 million in total, with a notable funding round of $500 million in 2024. Specializing in language models, Cohere aims to compete with established players like OpenAI in providing AI infrastructure advanced.

8. Puzzlement AI

Perplexity AI has become a significant player, securing $915 million in funding, with $886 million raised in 2024. The company is focused on advancing search engine and conversational AI technologies, bridging the gaps key gaps in the evolving AI market.

Read also: Nigeria ranks 5th among top 10 countries for startups in 2024

9. Figure IA

Figure AI has secured $854 million in funding, with $675 million raised in 2024. The company’s work in AI-powered robotics is gaining traction, reflecting growing confidence among investors in automation and AI-based systems.

10. Brain Systems

Cerebras Systems, which focuses on AI hardware for deep learning, has raised $715 million to date. The company’s innovative hardware solutions are key to improving AI model performance and supporting large-scale model training, making it a critical player in the AI ​​ecosystem.

Chisom Michael

Chisom Michael is a Data Analyst (Audience Engagement) and Editor at BusinessDay, with diverse experience in the media industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial physics from Imo State University and a master’s degree in computer science and technology from Liaoning University of Technology, China. He specializes in writing lists, profiles, and leverages his skills in audience engagement analysis and data-driven insights to create compelling content that resonates with readers.