Former Apple Team Members Secure $100 Million in Series C Financing for AI Venture Humane
In Brief
Humane was established in 2018 by ex-Apple executives Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno.
The company is dedicated to creating cutting-edge consumer devices along with a robust software platform for AI technology.
The funding raised will be earmarked for the rapid advancement of mobile computing solutions powered by AI technology.
Humane, a startup focusing on AI hardware and software, just completed a Series C funding round, amassing $100 million led by Kindred Ventures. This round also saw participation from existing investors such as Tiger Global, Valia Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, Lachy Groom, and Sam Altman from OpenAI.
New strategic investors and partners, such as Hico Capital (the US investment arm of SK networks), Microsoft, Volvo Cars Tech Fund, LG Technology Ventures, Top Tier Capital, Hudson Bay Capital, and Socium Ventures, have also joined in this investment round.
Founded in 2018 by former Apple engineering team members Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, Humane focuses on building a comprehensive software platform and innovative consumer devices for AI applications. This recent financing follows a previous $100 million Series B funding round that took place in September 2021. The new funds will help expedite the development of AI-driven mobile computing solutions.
According to a press release Humane has established partnerships with several leading technology firms around the globe:
- Humane plans to use Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure to launch its service platform effectively.
- The company intends to incorporate OpenAI's technology into its consumer-centric devices.
- Future global expansion strategies for Humane include collaboration with SK Networks, a South Korean multinational firm that operates within the ICT sector.
- Humane will work alongside LG on potential R&D efforts that will shape the future technology embedded in Humane’s product lineup and enhance integration with smart home systems.
- Volvo Cars Tech Fund will collaborate with Humane, aiming to adapt the company's solutions for the automotive market.
Our initial device will empower users to carry AI technology wherever they go. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation, and our concentration has been on crafting a platform and device that can unleash the complete power of this tech.
stated Imran Chaudhri, Co-Founder of Humane.
While specific details about Humane's upcoming products remain under wraps, the company intrigued audiences last July with a teaser that provided a sneak peek of their developments. In this snippet, a protagonist interacts with a sea of individuals, all engaged with devices that might be handheld, wearable, or even immersive.
In August of last year, Humane brought on YouTuber Sam Sheffer as the head of new media. Sheffer previously contributed at Engadget as an editor and spent four years managing social media at The Verge before moving on to work as a creative producer at Mashable.
Humane isn’t the only AI firm to have garnered significant funding recently. Just last week, FT reported the startup Character, which is creating AI chatbots capable of emulating public figures, secured between $200 million and $250 million in a funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, bringing its market valuation to $1 billion. On February 27, the generative AI enterprise Typeface emerged from stealth with $65 million in funding.
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