Takeaways by Saasverse AI
- Thinking Machines Lab | New Funding Round | Target Valuation: $50 Billion+ | General AI Collaboration Systems.
- Founded by ex-OpenAI executive Mira Murati, with $2 billion seed funding raised in July 2023 at a $12 billion valuation.
- Core team includes AI luminaries from OpenAI; first product, Tinker, launched in October 2025, focusing on language model fine-tuning.
Thinking Machines Lab, the AI startup founded by former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, is reportedly in discussions for a new funding round that could value the company at an astounding $50 billion to $60 billion. This marks a significant leap from its $12 billion valuation during its record-breaking $2 billion seed funding round in July 2023, which was the largest angel-stage financing in history. That round saw participation from top-tier investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, Accel, ServiceNow, Cisco, AMD, and Jane Street.
Founded in February 2023, Thinking Machines Lab has rapidly emerged as a key player in the AI landscape, driven by a team of industry pioneers. Its core team features high-profile experts, including John Schulman (a co-creator of ChatGPT), Barret Zoph (former VP of Research at OpenAI), and Lilian Weng (an AI safety and robotics expert also from OpenAI). However, the company recently faced a leadership change, as co-founder Andrew Tulloch departed to join Meta.
In October 2025, the company launched its first product, Tinker, an AI tool designed for fine-tuning large language models. Tinker is emblematic of Thinking Machines’ broader mission: to develop collaborative general intelligence systems that facilitate seamless human-AI interaction. The company is also committed to advancing open science, aiming to deepen the understanding and accessibility of these advanced systems.
While specific details of the ongoing funding round remain under wraps, the company’s projected valuation underscores the market’s confidence in its vision and execution potential. If successful, the round will further solidify Thinking Machines’ position as a vanguard in the AI sector, particularly in the development of adaptive and collaborative AI technologies.
“ Thinking Machines’ meteoric rise reflects the confluence of visionary leadership, a world-class team, and a clear focus on transformative AI applications. Mira Murati’s ability to attract both talent and capital has positioned the company as one of the most closely watched players in the AI space. The launch of Tinker signals the company’s intent to address critical industry needs, such as the fine-tuning of language models for specialized applications—a capability that is becoming increasingly essential as AI continues to penetrate diverse sectors.The company's commitment to open science and collaboration sets it apart from competitors that often operate in closed ecosystems. This approach not only aligns with industry trends but also builds trust among stakeholders, from developers to enterprise clients. However, the departure of co-founder Andrew Tulloch could pose challenges as the company scales, particularly if his expertise was central to its early technological roadmap. ” Saasverse Analyst comments
Saasverse Insights
Thinking Machines’ anticipated $50 billion valuation underscores a broader trend in the AI ecosystem: the shift toward general-purpose AI systems that prioritize adaptability and collaboration. As enterprises increasingly demand AI solutions that can integrate seamlessly into complex workflows, companies like Thinking Machines are well-positioned to capture this market.
The launch of Tinker highlights the growing importance of tools that empower organizations to customize language models for their unique needs. This aligns with a larger movement in AI, where fine-tuning and specialization are becoming key differentiators in an otherwise commoditized landscape of foundational models.
Thinking Machines’ ability to maintain its rapid growth will hinge on its capacity to execute on its ambitious roadmap while navigating the complexities of scaling a company at the forefront of AI innovation. If successful, it has the potential to redefine the boundaries of collaborative AI, setting new standards for adaptability, openness, and impact in the AI-driven economy.