Alphasense Inc., a market-research and data firm powered by artificial intelligence, is in the process of raising funding at a $2.5 billion valuation, people familiar with the matter said.
The New York-based company is in talks to collect about $150 million, which would be used to fund growth opportunities, including potential acquisitions, according to the people, who asked to not be identified because the details aren’t public. The round, which hasn’t closed yet, could be announced within weeks, they said.
A representative for Alphasense declined to comment.
The funding round comes at a time of white-hot interest in AI-oriented businesses, following Microsoft Corp.’s move this year to invest up to $10 billion in the parent of ChatGPT. Investors have been pouring money into the space on the bet that AI will be the next big growth area, with the potential to upend everything from the arts to finance.
Alphasense raised $100 million in April at a valuation of $1.8 billion from investors including Viking Global Investors and affiliates of Alphabet Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., according to a statement at the time.
Started in 2011, Alphasense uses AI to gather and share company documents, equity reports, news and other data for its market-research platform, according to its website. Its “AI-based search engine” has been used to help cancer researchers keep abreast of clinical trials and consultants come up with new business ideas. Its customers have included Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo & Co. and Bain Capital
