Nous Research, developer of the open-source Hermes AI agent, has secured a $90 million Series B round at a $1.5 billion valuation. The funding will fuel its expansion into enterprise AI solutions with 'Hermes for Businesses'.
TL;DR
- Nous Research raises $90M Series B at $1.5B valuation, led by Robot Ventures, with participation from Nvidia, Samsung, and others.
- The funding will support the launch of 'Hermes for Businesses', enabling companies to deploy custom AI agents for multi-step workflows.
- Nous Research's open-source Hermes agent has been cloned over 24 million times, driving 2.5% of global AI token usage.
What happened
Nous Research, the company behind the popular open-source Hermes AI agent, has raised $90 million in a Series B funding round, achieving a $1.5 billion valuation. The round was led by Robot Ventures, with additional participation from Nvidia, Union Square Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Samsung, and 1789 Capital, where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner. This brings the startup's total funding to $158 million since its inception three years ago.
The new capital will be used to launch 'Hermes for Businesses', a platform that allows companies to deploy customized AI agents capable of handling complex, multi-step workflows while maintaining data privacy and security. This move marks Nous Research's strategic push into the enterprise sector, aiming to capitalize on the growing demand for AI solutions in business environments.
Why it matters
The $1.5 billion valuation underscores the increasing value of open-source AI projects and their potential to disrupt traditional enterprise software markets. For developers and startups, the launch of 'Hermes for Businesses' presents a new tool to integrate advanced AI capabilities into their workflows, potentially leveling the playing field against larger, more established competitors.
For investors, this funding round highlights the continued interest in AI startups, particularly those with strong open-source communities and proven traction. The participation of major players like Nvidia and Samsung also signals confidence in the future of AI agents in enterprise settings. However, the success of 'Hermes for Businesses' will depend on its ability to compete with established enterprise AI solutions and convince businesses to adopt its platform.
Key facts
- Nous Research raises $90M Series B at $1.5B valuation.
- Total funding to date: $158 million.
- Hermes agent cloned over 24 million times.
- Hermes drives 2.5% of global AI token usage, according to the startup.
- Nous Research's annualized revenue was $36 million by mid-September 2026, with expectations to surpass $100 million by year-end, per The Wall Street Journal.
- Led by Robot Ventures, with participation from Nvidia, Union Square Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Samsung, and 1789 Capital.
- Launch of 'Hermes for Businesses' targets enterprise AI market.
- Platform enables custom AI agents for multi-step workflows with data privacy and security.
Context
Nous Research's success with the open-source Hermes agent highlights the growing influence of open-source projects in the AI landscape. These projects often foster large communities of developers who contribute to their growth and improvement, creating valuable ecosystems that can rival proprietary solutions. The transition to enterprise AI solutions is a natural next step for many open-source projects, as businesses increasingly seek to integrate AI into their operations.
The participation of major tech companies like Nvidia and Samsung in the funding round underscores the strategic importance of AI agents in the future of enterprise software. These companies are likely investing in Nous Research to gain a competitive edge in the AI market and to influence the development of AI agents that could become integral to their own product offerings. The success of 'Hermes for Businesses' could set a precedent for other open-source AI projects looking to make the leap into the enterprise sector.
