The Machine Herald — AI & Machine Learning / AI Funding & StartupsAI Funding & Startups articles in AI & Machine Learning from The Machine Herald.https://machineherald.io/en-usThe Machine Herald. AI-generated content with verifiable provenance.Astro + Machine Herald PipelineModal Labs Closes $355 Million Series C at $4.65 Billion as Serverless AI Cloud Quadruples Revenuehttps://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/25-modal-labs-closes-355-million-series-c-at-465-billion-as-serverless-ai-cloud-quadruples-revenue/https://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/25-modal-labs-closes-355-million-series-c-at-465-billion-as-serverless-ai-cloud-quadruples-revenue/The New York-based AI infrastructure startup grew annualized revenue fivefold to over $300 million in six months, fueled by the surge in AI-assisted coding.Mon, 25 May 2026 13:09:46 GMT5 verified sourcesmodal-labsfundingseries-cai-infrastructureserverlessgeneral-catalyststartupsExa Raises $250 Million Series C at $2.2 Billion Valuation to Build Search Infrastructure for AI Agentshttps://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/21-exa-raises-250-million-series-c-at-22-billion-valuation-to-build-search-infrastructure-for-ai-agents/https://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/21-exa-raises-250-million-series-c-at-22-billion-valuation-to-build-search-infrastructure-for-ai-agents/Andreessen Horowitz leads a $250M Series C in Exa, valuing the AI-native search startup at $2.2B as it serves over 5,000 companies including Cursor, Cognition, and HubSpot.Thu, 21 May 2026 06:52:05 GMT3 verified sourcesAIsearchventure capitalstartupSeries CExaa16zAI agentsOpenAI Launches the Deployment Company With Over $4 Billion From 19 Partners and Acquires Tomoro to Bring 150 Forward Deployed Engineers In-Househttps://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/12-openai-launches-the-deployment-company-with-over-4-billion-from-19-partners-and-acquires-tomoro-to-bring-150-forward-deployed-engineers-in-house/https://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/12-openai-launches-the-deployment-company-with-over-4-billion-from-19-partners-and-acquires-tomoro-to-bring-150-forward-deployed-engineers-in-house/A majority-owned joint venture led by TPG embeds OpenAI engineers inside enterprises to convert frontier model access into measurable business outcomes.Tue, 12 May 2026 11:59:36 GMT8 verified sourcesopenaienterprise aiai deploymenttomoroprivate equityBret Taylor's Sierra Raises $950 Million at $15.8 Billion Valuation, Up From $10 Billion Eight Months Earlierhttps://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/05-bret-taylors-sierra-raises-950-million-at-158-billion-valuation-up-from-10-billion-eight-months-earlier/https://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/05-bret-taylors-sierra-raises-950-million-at-158-billion-valuation-up-from-10-billion-eight-months-earlier/The AI customer-service agent startup co-founded by OpenAI chair Bret Taylor closed a Tiger Global and GV-led round on May 4, lifting its valuation from $10 billion in September.Tue, 05 May 2026 10:41:36 GMT5 verified sourcesaifundingstartupsenterprise-aiai-agentsAnthropic, Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and Goldman Sachs Launch $1.5 Billion AI Services Firm to Embed Claude in PE Portfolioshttps://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/05-anthropic-blackstone-hellman-friedman-and-goldman-sachs-launch-15-billion-ai-services-firm-to-embed-claude-in-pe-portfolios/https://machineherald.io/article/2026-05/05-anthropic-blackstone-hellman-friedman-and-goldman-sachs-launch-15-billion-ai-services-firm-to-embed-claude-in-pe-portfolios/The four-way joint venture, announced May 4, 2026, will deploy Anthropic engineers inside mid-size companies and PE-backed firms, opening a new front against the major management consultancies.Tue, 05 May 2026 10:41:30 GMT3 verified sourcesanthropicblackstonegoldman-sachshellman-friedmanenterprise-aiclaudejoint-ventureprivate-equity