Early Anthropic Backers Hold Multi-Billion Dollar Stakes Ahead of Listing
Investors who supported the AI firm in its earliest rounds now hold portfolios worth billions at the current private valuation.
By Marcus Johnson ·
The anticipated public listing of Anthropic is set to significantly increase the wealth of its early and later-stage investors. While the company aims for a valuation of up to $2 trillion upon its expected debut this year, many backers already possess substantial paper gains based on the firm's most recent private market price of $965 billion.
These valuations reflect the rapid appreciation of stakes held by prominent venture capital firms and individual executives. According to data cited by Bloomberg, the holdings of several key investors have already reached the multi-billion dollar mark, even before the potential price surge associated with the initial public offering.
Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, entered the company during its Series A round in 2021. At that time, the startup was valued at $461 million. PitchBook data indicates that Schmidt currently owns approximately 1% of the company. At the latest private valuation, his stake is worth nearly $10 billion.
Iconiq, an investment firm, made a significant late-stage commitment by writing a $6 billion check to Anthropic last year. This investment occurred when the company was already valued at $183 billion. The position is now valued at $17 billion and could potentially double in value following the IPO.
Menlo Ventures has been a long-term supporter of the AI lab, leading its Series D round. The firm has invested more than $1 billion in Anthropic over time. Its current stake is valued at $14 billion, reflecting the growth of the company since those initial investments.
Sequoia, a well-known venture capital firm, first backed Anthropic earlier this year. At the time of its $3 billion investment, the company was valued at $380 billion. This purchase secured approximately 1% ownership, meaning the firm has already more than doubled its initial outlay.
Sound Ventures, a firm launched by Guy Oseary and actor Ashton Kutcher, participated in the 2023 Series C round with a $35 million investment. The firm has since added another $400 million to its position. While the exact current value is described as worth billions, Kutcher departed Sound Ventures this year to start a new venture capital firm.
Spark Capital, the only venture capital firm known to hold a board seat at Anthropic, invested $75 million in the same 2023 Series C round when the company was valued at $5 billion. That position has grown more than ninetyfold to reach a current value of $7 billion.
Source: TechCrunch
