Key facts
- AI inference startup Baseten is reportedly nearing a $1.5 billion funding round.
- The company's valuation in this round is reportedly $13 billion.
- This follows a $300 million Series E round at a $5 billion valuation just five months ago.
- The deal is described as a split-priced round with varying valuations for different investors.
- Spark Capital, Sands Capital, Altimeter Capital, and Wellington Management are reportedly co-leading the round.
AI inference company Baseten is reportedly nearing the finalization of a significant $1.5 billion funding round, with a valuation of $13 billion. This potential deal comes just five months after the startup secured $300 million in a Series E round at a $5 billion valuation, and nine months after a $150 million Series D.
If completed, the latest round would represent a substantial 160% increase in valuation in under six months. However, reports indicate it is a split-priced round, a strategy where some investors enter at the higher headline valuation of $13 billion, while others come in at $11 billion. Spark Capital, Sands Capital, Altimeter Capital, and Wellington Management are reportedly co-leading this round.
Launched in 2019, Baseten operates within the burgeoning AI inference sector, often referred to as the "inference gold rush." The company focuses on providing fast and cost-effective inference services by intelligently routing requests to the most suitable models, including less expensive open-source alternatives.