US venture capital firm Sequoia Capital is considering investing in Claude-maker Anthropic as part of a fundraising effort that could reach “tens of billions of dollars”, per the Financial Times. The fundraising round is led by GIC and Coatue, each committing $1.5bn. Anthropic aims to raise $25bn, with Microsoft and Nvidia pledging up to $15bn. Talks are ongoing, with a closing expected in the coming weeks.

Sequoia’s involvement follows a leadership transition last year, with Pat Grady and Alfred Lin as co-leaders. The firm previously backed Google, Apple, Stripe, and Airbnb, holding stakes in OpenAI and xAI. The move reflects a shift towards supporting multiple rivals in the AI sector. The Anthropic deal resembles a stock investment rather than traditional venture capital backing, according to insiders.

Anthropic, known for its Claude chatbot and AI tools for software engineers, is preparing for a possible IPO this year. The company has engaged Wilson Sonsini for legal work and held talks with banks about a listing. Earlier this month, xAI raised $20bn in a Series E funding round, exceeding its $15bn target. Notable participants in xAI’s financing include Valor Equity Partners, StepStone Group, Fidelity Management & Research Company, and Qatar Investment Authority, with Nvidia and Cisco Investments as strategic partners.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Sequoia Capital planning billon dollar investment in Claude-maker Anthropic