A Mira-culous $2B seed round

Author

Noel Moldvai
June 26, 2025

TL;DR. Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s new startup shattered records with a $2B raise, the largest seed round ever recorded. Meanwhile, Tesla’s robotaxi launch is under scrutiny after videos surfaced showing traffic violations, casting doubt on Elon Musk’s claims of a successful debut.

Thinking Machines Lab raises a record breaking $2B seed funding round under former OpenAI CTO

Led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, Thinking Machines Lab raised a historic $2B seed round, hitting a $10B valuation. Backed by top AI talent and Andreessen Horowitz, the company plans to build collaborative, general-purpose AI systems with an emphasis on user customization and multimodal capability beyond standard chatbots.

Tesla's robotaxi rollout sparks safety concerns after illegal lane swerves and speeding

Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi debut included illegal swerving, speeding, and confusion in traffic, despite Elon Musk labeling it a success. Safety regulators are already reviewing the incidents, even as influencers and bullish analysts praised the tech. Tesla claims the data is confidential while critics demand transparency on its autonomous performance.

Uber-backed Lime prepares for IPO

Lime has hired Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan to prepare for a U.S. IPO, eyeing a valuation above its last $510M round. The move follows improving IPO market conditions and $686M in revenue last year. Yet, Lime faces hurdles in a sector plagued by bankruptcies and operational challenges from peers like Bird.

Invest in unicorns before they IPO

Want in on the next Uber or OpenAI? Pre-IPO investing is no longer reserved for elite venture capital firms. With the rise of private secondary markets, investors can now access equity in billion-dollar startups before they go public.

This article unpacks what makes a unicorn, why secondaries are gaining traction, and how platforms like Augment are making it easier for accredited investors to find, fund, and benefit from the next big thing.

Quick Takes

Cheerio! Until next week.
-Noel