Menlo Ventures and Anthropic Launch $100M Fund to Accelerate AI Innovation Across Industries

Menlo Ventures and Anthropic Launch $100M AI Startup Fund, Back 18 Companies

In a significant move to accelerate innovation in the artificial intelligence sector, Menlo Ventures and Anthropic have announced the successful launch of their $100 million Anthology Fund. The initiative, which began five months ago, has already backed its first 18 startups from thousands of applicants.

The selected startups represent a diverse range of sectors, including recruiting software, autonomous coding, interpretability research, fintech compliance, tax applications, radiology image analysis, non-human identity cybersecurity, customer engagement software, and consumer nutrition apps. Additionally, eight more startups have been accepted into the program but remain in stealth mode.

The Anthology Fund combines elements of corporate startup programs and incubators, offering a comprehensive support package to its participants. Startups receive usage credits, educational resources, company-building attention, and investment. The fund provides checks of $100,000 or more, along with $25,000 worth of credits for Anthropic’s AI models.

This strategic initiative aims to influence the future of the AI sector, with Menlo Ventures being a significant investor in Anthropic. The fund specifically targets the development of applications built on top of foundational AI models and infrastructure, seeking to identify and support innovative companies leveraging Anthropic or broader AI technologies.

Tim Tully, a partner at Menlo Ventures, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Anthropic, stating, “This fund represents a strategic move to engage with the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem and discover promising startups that will shape the future of technology.”

As the AI landscape continues to expand, the Anthology Fund is poised to play a crucial role in fostering the next generation of AI-driven innovations and startups.