Perplexity AI Enters the Investment Game
Perplexity AI is making a bold move in the artificial intelligence (AI) space by launching a $50 million venture fund to support early-stage AI startups in the United States. This strategic initiative aims to accelerate innovation and growth within the rapidly expanding AI sector.
While most of the funding will come from external investors, Perplexity itself will also contribute using part of the capital raised for its own expansion. The fund will be managed by Kelly Graziadei and Joanna Lee Shevelenko, co-founders of the venture firm F7 Ventures. It remains unclear whether they will continue their roles at F7 Ventures or dedicate their full attention to this new initiative.
Perplexity’s Recent $500M Funding Boost
This announcement comes shortly after Perplexity raised $500 million in December 2024, tripling its valuation to $9 billion. Major investors in that round included SoftBank, Nvidia, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Perplexity is not the only AI company venturing into startup investments. OpenAI also operates the OpenAI Startup Fund, but unlike Perplexity, it does not invest its own money.
Expanding Product Offerings
In addition to its venture fund, Perplexity is rapidly expanding its product lineup. The AI search engine developer recently introduced ‘Deep Research’, a tool that generates in-depth AI-driven reports. It is also working on a web browser named Comet, for which users can now join a waitlist.
These innovations position Perplexity as a major player in the AI-driven search and research industry.
AI Startups Attract Record-High Venture Capital
The AI sector continues to attract high levels of venture capital investment. A report from HSBC Innovation Banking revealed that 42% of all U.S. venture capital investments in 2024 went into AI startups. This marks a significant increase from 36% in 2023 and 22% in 2022.
“Venture capital has always gravitated toward transformative industries, but the level of consolidation we’re seeing within one category is unprecedented,” said Dave Sabow, head of HSBC U.S. Innovation Banking.
Sabow further emphasized that AI’s transformative power marks the dawn of ‘The Agentic Age,’ an era where autonomous AI capabilities redefine how humans communicate, work, and interact with the digital and physical worlds.
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AI and Robotics Startups Secure Massive Funding
Beyond Perplexity AI, several other AI and robotics companies have secured significant funding in recent months:
- Figure, a company developing humanoid robots, is reportedly in talks to secure $1.5 billion in Series C funding.
- Lambda, a cloud AI firm, has raised $480 million.
- Together.ai, which specializes in open-source AI models, has secured $305 million in Series B funding.
The AI industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with venture capital firms racing to invest in the next big breakthrough. With Perplexity AI now entering the investment space, the competition among AI-driven innovation funds is set to intensify.
Conclusion
Perplexity AI’s $50 million venture fund marks a significant step toward shaping the future of AI startups. With increasing AI investments and groundbreaking technological advancements, the next few years promise to be a transformative period for the global AI ecosystem.
By backing early-stage AI companies, Perplexity is positioning itself not just as a leading AI technology company, but also as a key player in shaping the next wave of AI innovation.
