Overview

• Anthropic is negotiating a $3 billion to $5 billion funding round led by Iconiq Capital that could value the startup at $170 billion.
• The proposed valuation would nearly triple its March post-money valuation of $61.5 billion from a Lightspeed-led $3.5 billion round.
• A leaked memo shows Amodei now views Gulf sovereign wealth as essential for sustaining cutting-edge AI work despite prior security warnings.
• Discussions include potential co-leads Qatar Investment Authority and Singapore’s GIC, prompting scrutiny over geopolitical influence.
• This financing push highlights the intensifying competition and steep capital demands of generative AI development as Anthropic challenges OpenAI and other rivals.