Thinking Machines Lab seeks massive $2 billion in potential largest seed round ever

Mira Murati, who previously served as OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer, is stepping into the spotlight with a bold new startup: Thinking Machines Lab. The company is reportedly seeking $2 billion in seed funding twice its initial goal. If successful, the raise could set a new benchmark for early-stage investment, potentially valuing the company at over $10 billion, despite having no product on the market or revenue yet.

Here’s a breakdown of this significant development:

Aiming for the record books: Thinking Machines Lab is setting its sights high with a planned $2 billion seed round an unheard-of figure for a startup at such an early stage. If successful, it would mark the largest seed funding round ever recorded.

Rapidly rising goals: The company initially sought $1 billion, but that goal was reportedly doubled within just two months, signaling overwhelming interest from investors.

Billion-dollar valuation before launch: Despite having no public product or revenue stream, the company is already targeting a valuation north of $10 billion, underscoring the confidence backing this venture.

A team of AI heavyweights: Murati has brought together a team of around 30 top-tier researchers and engineers, many of whom previously worked at industry leaders like OpenAI, Meta, and DeepMind. Notably, John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, has joined as Chief Scientist, alongside Barret Zoph, another OpenAI alum, now serving as CTO.

Pushing the boundaries of multimodal AI: Thinking Machines Lab is reportedly focused on building next-generation multimodal models AI systems capable of processing and combining text, images, and possibly more. The goal is to enhance how humans and AI interact and collaborate.

Making AI more adaptable and responsible: Murati envisions developing AI that’s not only technically powerful, but also easy to customize, broadly useful, and aligned with human needs and values. Responsible development practices and user transparency are central to that mission.

Backing built on a proven track record: The sheer scale of the funding goal and the interest surrounding it reflects a strong belief in Murati’s leadership. Her work at OpenAI, where she helped lead development of ChatGPT, DALL·E, and GPT-4, plays a big role in inspiring confidence among investors and the broader AI community.

Context and significance:

AI investment surge: The artificial intelligence space is in the midst of a major funding boom, with investors pouring money into startups especially those led by seasoned industry veterans. Venture capital firms are racing to back companies they believe could shape the next era of AI.

Rise of talent-led ventures: Thinking Machines Lab fits a growing pattern in the industry: high-profile researchers and engineers branching out from tech giants to build their own companies. These talent-led startups often secure significant funding early on, thanks to the reputation and accomplishments of their founders.

Putting the $2B goal in context: While a $2 billion seed round would be unprecedented, it’s not the first time an AI startup has raised a jaw-dropping amount early. For example, Ilya Sutskever, one of OpenAI’s co-founders, recently secured $1 billion for his new venture, Safe Superintelligence, which focuses on AI safety.

A high bar to clear: With record-breaking funding comes sky-high expectations. For Thinking Machines Lab, the real test will be delivering on its ambitious roadmap transforming bold ideas into working products while competing in a space already dominated by major players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.

Mira Murati’s background:

Mira Murati led OpenAI’s technical direction as Chief Technology Officer from May 2022 until September 2024, playing a central role in the development of major AI breakthroughs like ChatGPT, DALL·E, and GPT-4. Her influence extended beyond engineering she was instrumental in shaping the organization’s strategy around research priorities, product design, and responsible AI practices.

Before joining OpenAI in 2018, Murati gained experience in both the automotive and emerging tech sectors. She worked on the Model X at Tesla as a product manager, and later joined Leap Motion, a company focused on augmented reality interfaces. Her academic background includes time at Colby College and Dartmouth College.

In September 2024, Murati left OpenAI to strike out on her own, founding Thinking Machines Lab. The ambitious funding goals and early buzz around the startup reflect not just her track record, but the industry’s high expectations for what she’s building next.