$220 Million Seed Round: H, an AI Startup with a Star-Studded Founding Team
H, a startup based in Paris and previously known as Holistic AI, has made headlines with its $220 million seed round. This impressive feat is all the more remarkable considering it happened just a few months after the company’s inception.
So, what makes H stand out from other startups? One key factor is its founding team. Charles Kantor, the startup’s co-founder and CEO, was a university researcher at Stanford. The four other co-founders all previously worked for DeepMind, the AI company owned by Google:
- Karl Tuyls: A research director at DeepMind, where he worked on game theory and multi-agent research.
- Laurent Sifre: A principal scientist who contributed to many of DeepMind’s flagship projects, such as AlphaGo, AlphaFold, and AlphaStar. More recently, he also worked on Google’s Gemini and Gemma AI models.
- Daan Wierstra: Who will become H’s chief scientist, was a founding member at DeepMind.
- Julien Perolat: Worked on game theory and multi-agent research at DeepMind.
Given the impressive track record of its founders, it’s no wonder that H is working on AI agents: automated systems that can perform tasks traditionally performed by human workers. The company’s minimalistic website states that H is working on "frontier action models to boost the productivity of workers."
Who’s Backing H?
The list of investors in H includes a long roster of billionaires (or their family offices), well-known VC funds, and strategic backers. Some notable names include:
- Eric Schmidt: A well-known tech investor and former Google CEO.
- Xavier Niel: A French entrepreneur and investor.
- Yuri Milner: A Russian-born businessman and investor.
- Laurent Asscher: The founder of De Beers.
In addition to these individuals, H has also attracted investments from prominent VC firms like:
- Bessemer Venture Partners
- Fidelity Management & Research Company
- T. Rowe Price
What’s Next for H?
With its significant funding and star-studded founding team, H is poised to make a significant impact in the AI space. The company’s focus on developing AI agents that can boost productivity suggests that it may be working on solutions for various industries, from healthcare to finance.
As H continues to grow and develop its technology, we can expect to see more exciting updates from this innovative startup. With its impressive team and strong backing, H is certainly one to watch in the world of AI.
The Future of AI
H’s $220 million seed round is just one example of the significant investment being poured into the AI space. As AI continues to transform industries and revolutionize the way we live and work, it will be exciting to see how companies like H contribute to this rapidly evolving landscape.
Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or simply interested in the latest tech trends, H’s story is a reminder of the incredible innovation happening right now. Stay tuned for more updates from this exciting startup!
