TechCrunch · AIJul 14, 2026, 07:31 UTC+8

Nous Research is raising at least $75M at a $1.5B valuation, led by Robot Ventures

Hermes agent maker Nous Research in talks for new funding at $1.5B valuation

Nous Research, the startup behind the open-source Hermes agent, is finalizing a round at a $1.5B valuation, raising at least $75M. Robot Ventures is leading, with USV joining significantly. Three sources confirmed the deal; Nous declined to comment, and the investors didn't respond. Founded in 2023, the company previously raised $70M from Paradigm, OSS Capital, Balaji Srinivasan, and others. The post doesn't spell out how the new capital will be used or give recent Hermes updates.

Why it matters: Nous Research's Hermes agent has real traction in open-source circles, and both the numbers and investor lineup are solid. The ding is that this is 'in talks' not closed, and neither Nous nor the investors have commented — everything comes from sources.

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The number is what makes this worth a click: a company founded in 2023, behind the open-source Hermes agent, is now closing a round at a $1.5 billion valuation. Robot Ventures is leading, with USV taking a significant piece. Three sources confirmed the deal, but Nous declined to comment and the investors didn't respond to emails.

I'd discount this a bit. The post doesn't say what the new capital is for—training a new model, pushing an enterprise product, or just scaling the team. There's no update on Hermes either. They previously raised $70 million from Paradigm, OSS Capital, and Balaji Srinivasan, so the valuation has doubled, but the product side of the story is blank.

If you're tracking the open-source agent space, the useful bit here is that capital is still flowing into this direction. Just don't read it as proof that Hermes has figured out a sustainable business model yet.

Source: TechCrunch · AI · techcrunch.com
Published: Jul 14, 2026, 07:31 UTC+8 · Jul 14, 2026