Nous Research Raises $90 Million for Its Open-Source AI Assistant
AI startup Nous Research has raised $90 million in Series B funding as it prepares to take its open-source Hermes AI assistant deeper into the enterprise market.
The round was led by Robot Ventures and included Nvidia, Microsoft's M12, Samsung, Union Square Ventures and 1789 Capital. The financing values Nous Research at around $1.5 billion and brings its total funding to approximately $158 million.
The new capital will support the company's efforts to expand Hermes beyond its growing base of individual users and build products and infrastructure for corporate customers.
Hermes Gains Traction Among AI Users
Hermes is an open-source AI agent developed by Nous Research that can perform tasks such as browsing the web, editing files and interacting with applications. The company describes it as a self-improving agent with a built-in learning loop that can create skills from experience and retain information across sessions.
Since its launch in February, Hermes has recorded 22.7 million downloads, according to data cited by The Wall Street Journal. The platform has also attracted attention from developers who want more control over the models, data and infrastructure powering their AI assistants.
Open-Source Approach Targets Enterprises
Nous Research is positioning Hermes around openness and user control at a time when companies are increasingly evaluating AI agents for workplace tasks.
The company's approach allows organisations to have greater flexibility over where models and data are stored and how an AI agent is configured. That can be particularly relevant for businesses concerned about data control and dependence on proprietary AI platforms.
Nous Research says its broader mission is to make advanced AI more accessible through open models, agents and infrastructure. Its current product portfolio includes Hermes Agent, models and the Nous Portal for running Hermes.
From Developer Tool to Enterprise Product
The funding marks a shift for Nous Research as it attempts to turn Hermes' developer and consumer traction into a larger commercial business.
The company is already generating revenue from its products, with the latest WSJ report putting its annualised revenue at around $36 million. Nous Research aims to increase that figure substantially as it expands into enterprise customers.
That transition will bring new challenges, particularly around security, reliability, scalability and the level of control businesses expect from AI agents operating across their systems. The company will now use its latest funding to build out the infrastructure and enterprise offering needed for wider adoption.
AI Funding Moves Toward Agent Infrastructure
The Nous Research round reflects growing investor interest in AI agents that can perform actions rather than simply generate text or answer questions.
With major technology investors including Nvidia, Microsoft and Samsung participating, Nous Research is gaining financial backing as it competes in a market that includes both open-source projects and proprietary AI assistants.
The company now has to demonstrate that Hermes can maintain its open-source appeal while meeting the security and reliability requirements of enterprise customers.
