Thinking Machines Lab, the artificial intelligence startup founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, is reportedly in early discussions to raise a fresh round of capital at a valuation of around $50 billion. The potential deal, still under negotiation, marks a major escalation from the company’s previous valuation and places it among the world’s most valuable private AI companies less than a year after launch.
According to Bloomberg, the funding discussions have not been previously disclosed. People familiar with the matter said the valuation could also reach $55 billion to $60 billion, depending on final terms. They requested anonymity because the talks remain private and subject to change.
The prospective fundraise represents more than a fourfold jump from July, when Thinking Machines last raised capital. The rapid climb reflects rising investor interest in next-generation AI models and the growing influence of former OpenAI leaders launching new ventures.
Rapid Valuation Surge
Thinking Machines was founded in February and focuses on building AI models and tools to enable more effective “human–AI collaboration” across industries. Murati, who previously served as chief technology officer at OpenAI, has assembled a high-profile team, including co-founder John Schulman and former OpenAI research vice president Barret Zoph.
The startup, however, is also operating in an increasingly competitive talent environment. Co-founder Andrew Tulloch left the company last month for Meta Platforms, which has been offering multimillion-dollar compensation packages in its push to attract top AI researchers.
In July, Thinking Machines raised $2 billion at a $12 billion valuation, making it one of the largest seed rounds in recent history. The company introduced its first product, Tinker, shortly afterward.
Product Traction Grows
Tinker, a platform designed to help users customise or fine-tune large language models more easily, has begun gaining early adoption. Researchers at Princeton, Stanford, and other universities are already using the tool. People familiar with operations said the company has also started onboarding paying enterprise clients.
Thinking Machines’ funding momentum comes as investors increasingly back AI startups led by former OpenAI leaders. Ilya Sutskever’s new venture, Safe Superintelligence, was recently valued at $32 billion, while Periodic Labs — run by former OpenAI executive Liam Fedus — is valued at around $1.3 billion.
The race to secure top researchers and commercial traction continues to intensify, with major technology companies and independent labs competing aggressively for AI talent and capital.
Investor Interest Remains High
Industry analysts note that Thinking Machines’ potential valuation reflects broader confidence in specialist AI companies developing proprietary models and enterprise-focused tools. With a product already in use and a team of prominent AI researchers, the company is seen as a strong candidate for rapid scaling.
If finalised, the new round would position Thinking Machines as one of the fastest-growing AI startups globally, less than a year after its inception.
Who is Mira Murati
Mira Murati is widely recognised as one of the most influential leaders in artificial intelligence. Before founding Thinking Machines, she served as chief technology officer at OpenAI, where she played a major role in developing flagship products including ChatGPT and DALL·E. Known for her technical expertise and leadership across AI research and product development.
Murati has become a sought-after figure in the global AI ecosystem. Her move to start Thinking Machines has drawn significant attention from top investors eager to back experienced operators shaping the next wave of AI innovation.
