Thinking Machines lining up $1B round at least $40B valuation
Thinking Machines, the AI startup launched by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati in 2025, is reportedly lining up a $1 billion funding round.
Accel, a current backer, is in talks to lead the fundraise at a valuation of at least $40 billion, below last year's $50 billion goal.
The company's strong revenue (over $100 million annually) and its prior round, which stands among the largest seed financings in history, are noted.
Inkling drives revenue as co-founders depart
A big part of Thinking Machines' rise is Inkling, its open-weight AI model released this July that brings in cash through usage fees on the Tinker platform.
Still, it has not all been smooth sailing: co-founders Lilian Weng and Luke Metz left to return to OpenAI, even as Murati continues steering the ship with her team of ex-OpenAI researchers.