Liner has raised $36.1 million in Series C funding to accelerate its AI research and agent platform, now serving 14 million users and expanding into enterprise AI.
TL;DR
- Liner raises $36.1M Series C to expand AI platform and enterprise capabilities.
- Company now serves 14M users and partners with Saudi Arabian AI firm HUMAIN.
- Funding will drive R&D, infrastructure, and global talent acquisition.
What happened
Liner, an AI research and agent platform, has secured $36.1 million in Series C funding. The round was led by LB Investment, with participation from existing and new investors including Korea Development Bank and KB Securities. This brings Liner's total funding to approximately $64.3 million.
The funding comes as Liner expands its product portfolio beyond consumer-focused AI tools into enterprise applications. The company has over 14 million registered users across approximately 220 countries and ranked No. 30 globally among AI services by web traffic according to Similarweb as of late July 2026.
Liner's product portfolio includes specialized agents like Liner Scholar for academic research, Liner Write for business use, and Liner Finance for investment research. The company has also partnered with HUMAIN, a Saudi Arabian state-backed AI company, to supply its deep research-powered AI search engine for HUMAIN ONE.
Why it matters
This funding round underscores Liner's strategic shift into enterprise AI, a rapidly growing market. The partnership with HUMAIN demonstrates the company's ability to compete with global technology giants and adapt its technology for large enterprise and institutional customers.
For developers and startups, Liner's focus on product-led growth and evidence-backed research presents an alternative to marketing-driven expansion. The company's achievement of a 95.3 score on OpenAI's SimpleQA benchmark and its outperformance of GPT-4 in search-response generation highlight its technological prowess.
Investors should note Liner's impressive user base and global reach, as well as its strategic partnerships. The company's plans to invest in R&D, infrastructure, and global talent acquisition position it for sustained growth in the competitive AI landscape.
Key facts
- Liner raises $36.1 million in Series C funding, bringing total funding to $64.3 million.
- Company serves 14 million users across 220 countries.
- Ranked No. 30 globally in AI web traffic according to Similarweb as of late July 2026.
- Partners with HUMAIN to supply AI search engine for HUMAIN ONE.
- Achieved a score of 95.3 on OpenAI's SimpleQA benchmark.
- Outperformed GPT-4 in search-response generation.
- Plans to invest in R&D, infrastructure, and global talent acquisition.
- Founded and led by CEO Luke Kim.
Context
Liner's expansion into enterprise AI comes at a time when businesses are increasingly adopting AI technologies to streamline operations and gain a competitive edge. The company's focus on evidence-backed research and source traceability sets it apart in a crowded market.
The partnership with HUMAIN is particularly significant, as it demonstrates Liner's ability to compete with global technology giants and adapt its technology for large enterprise and institutional customers. This could open up new opportunities for Liner in the Middle East and other international markets.
Liner's product-led growth strategy and impressive user base make it a noteworthy player in the AI landscape. The company's focus on technological leadership and long-term value creation positions it for sustained growth in the competitive AI market.
