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startups funding•July 15, 2026
AP
By Aaryan Pathak
Founder & Lead Analyst

Nous Research in talks for new funding at $1.5 billion valuation

# Nous Research in Talks for New Funding at $1.5 Billion Valuation ## Executive Summary * Nous Research is in talks for new funding at a $1.5 billion

Nous Research in talks for new funding at $1.5 billion valuation

Nous Research in Talks for New Funding at $1.5 Billion Valuation

Executive Summary

  • Nous Research is in talks for new funding at a $1.5 billion valuation, led by Robot Ventures.
  • The new funding round will help expand Hermes' products and business model further.
  • Nous Research has released its own competitor called Hermes, which shipped with built-in "skills," such as web search, coding, and image understanding.
  • Hermes has amassed a massive following on GitHub, boasting roughly 214,000 stars and nearly 40,000 forks.
  • Nous Research offers a cloud-hosted version of Hermes, available via various paid tiers ranging from $20 to $200 a month.

Why This Matters

The growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) startups is evident in the potential new funding for Nous Research. Quick Explanation: AI refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making. Machine learning is a subset of AI that involves training algorithms to learn from data and improve their performance over time. As AI and ML continue to transform industries and revolutionize the way businesses operate, investors are taking notice of startups that are pushing the boundaries of innovation.

What Happened

According to TechCrunch Startups, Nous Research is in talks for new funding at a $1.5 billion valuation. The new funding round is led by Robot Ventures, with significant participation from USV and other prominent investors. This development comes after Nous Research had raised a total of $70 million in funding from investors including Paradigm, Robot Ventures, North Island Ventures, OSS Capital, and Balaji Srinivasan. The new funding will help to expand Hermes' products and business model further, according to TechCrunch Startups.

Background

Nous Research was founded in 2023 by Jeffrey Quesnelle, Karan Malhotra, Ryan Teknium, and Shivani Mitra. The company has been making waves in the AI and ML space with its release of Hermes, a competitor to popular AI platforms. Hermes has shipped with built-in "skills," such as web search, coding, and image understanding, and has amassed a massive following on GitHub, boasting roughly 214,000 stars and nearly 40,000 forks. Nous Research offers a cloud-hosted version of Hermes, available via various paid tiers ranging from $20 to $200 a month.

Timeline

<Timeline /> - 2023: Nous Research founded by Jeffrey Quesnelle, Karan Malhotra, Ryan Teknium, and Shivani Mitra. - 2023: Nous Research releases Hermes, a competitor to popular AI platforms. - 2023: Nous Research raises $70 million in funding from investors including Paradigm, Robot Ventures, North Island Ventures, OSS Capital, and Balaji Srinivasan. - 2023: Nous Research begins talks for new funding at $1.5 billion valuation.

Industry Impact

The growing interest in AI and ML startups is evident in the potential new funding for Nous Research. As AI and ML continue to transform industries and revolutionize the way businesses operate, investors are taking notice of startups that are pushing the boundaries of innovation. The success of Nous Research and Hermes demonstrates the potential for AI and ML to drive business growth and innovation.

What Happens Next

The exact amount of funding Nous Research is raising is unclear, and the specific plans for expanding Hermes' products and business model are also unknown. However, it is clear that the new funding will help to further establish Nous Research as a major player in the AI and ML space.

Key Takeaways

  • Nous Research is in talks for new funding at a $1.5 billion valuation, led by Robot Ventures.
  • The new funding round will help expand Hermes' products and business model further.
  • Nous Research has released its own competitor called Hermes, which shipped with built-in "skills," such as web search, coding, and image understanding.
  • Hermes has amassed a massive following on GitHub, boasting roughly 214,000 stars and nearly 40,000 forks.
  • Nous Research offers a cloud-hosted version of Hermes, available via various paid tiers ranging from $20 to $200 a month.