Nous Research is raising at least $75 million in a funding round led by Robot Ventures, valuing the AI startup at $1.5 billion, according to three sources with knowledge of the deal. The company, creators of the open-source Hermes agent, is utilizing the capital to expand its product suite and business model for autonomous AI agents.
Nous Research Valuation and Funding Sources
The current funding round features significant participation from USV and other prominent investors, as reported by sources familiar with the transaction. This follows a previous funding history where Nous Research raised $70 million from a group including Paradigm, Robot Ventures, North Island Ventures, OSS Capital, and Balaji Srinivasan, according to Crunchbase data.
The company was established in 2023 by founders Jeffrey Quesnelle, Karan Malhotra, Ryan Teknium, and Shivani Mitra.
Did you know? Hermes has gained massive developer traction on GitHub, accumulating roughly 214,000 stars and nearly 40,000 forks.
Comparing Hermes and Openclaw AI Agents
Nous Research positioned Hermes as a direct competitor to Openclaw, an agent that went viral for its ability to run locally on a PC and execute tasks for users. Both tools allow users to automate tasks and interact with agents via apps like Telegram and Discord, enabling 24/7 remote operation.
According to the company’s documentation, Hermes differs from Openclaw by shipping with built-in “skills.” These capabilities include coding, web search, and image understanding. Hermes is also designed to automatically learn from user behavior to build new skills without manual intervention.
| Feature | Openclaw | Hermes (Nous Research) |
|---|---|---|
| Local Execution | Yes | Yes (Desktop/VPS) |
| Built-in Skills | Standard | Web search, coding, image understanding |
| Learning Method | User-defined | Automatic learning from usage |
The Shift Toward Hybrid Hosting Models
While Hermes remains open-source and can be run on a desktop or virtual private server (VPS), Nous Research has introduced a cloud-hosted version. This removes the technical barrier of local setup for non-technical users.
The hosted version operates on a tiered subscription model. Prices range from $20 to $200 per month.
Pro Tip: For developers looking to maintain total privacy and control, running Hermes on a VPS is the preferred route. For those needing immediate deployment without server management, the paid cloud tiers are the faster option.
Expansion into Specialized Language Models
Beyond the Hermes agent, Nous Research is diversifying its technical output. The startup has released specific language models focused on math and coding, targeting high-precision technical tasks that general-purpose LLMs sometimes struggle with.
Sources indicate that the new $75 million in funding will be used to further expand these products and refine the company’s business model, potentially moving deeper into the autonomous agent space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the valuation of Nous Research?
According to sources with knowledge of the deal, the company is valued at $1.5 billion.
How does Hermes differ from other AI agents?
Unlike some competitors, Hermes includes built-in skills for coding and web search and is designed to automatically learn new skills from user interaction.
Is Hermes free to use?
It is open-source and can be run for free on a user’s own hardware or VPS. However, Nous Research offers a paid cloud-hosted version ranging from $20 to $200 per month.
What do you think about the shift toward autonomous agents that “learn” on the fly? Let us know in the comments or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on AI funding and breakthroughs.
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