Perplexity, the AI-powered search startup that competes with Google by offering conversational solutions to consumer queries, has secured $200 million in new capital at a $20 billion valuation, The Info reported. The contemporary funding comes simply two months after the corporate raised $100 million at an $18 billion valuation, in keeping with a July report in Bloomberg.
Since its founding three years in the past, the quickly rising AI firm has raised $1.5 billion in whole funding, in keeping with PitchBook knowledge. It’s unclear who led Perplexity’s newest capital injection. Bloomberg reported that the July financing was an extension of a earlier $500 million spherical accomplished earlier this 12 months at a $14 billion valuation and led by Accel.
In line with a supply acquainted with the corporate, Perplexity’s annual recurring income (ARR) is approaching $200 million. Final month, Perplexity’s head of communication informed Enterprise Insider that the corporate’s ARR was greater than $150 million.
Perplexity didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The funding comes as Perplexity positions itself as a challenger to Google’s search dominance. In August, Perplexity provided to purchase Google’s Chrome browser for $34.5 billion. The provide got here after the Justice Division, alleging that Google was performing anticompetitively, proposed that the corporate promote its internet browser. Nonetheless, earlier this month, a federal decide dominated that Google is not going to have to interrupt up its search enterprise, successfully permitting the search big to maintain Chrome.