Claude AI Maker Anthropic Takes Major Step Toward $300 Billion IPO

TLDR

• Anthropic engaged Wilson Sonsini law firm for potential IPO preparation targeting 2026 launch date.
• The Claude AI maker is negotiating private funding that could exceed $300 billion valuation.
• Revenue projections show potential to reach $26 billion annually by next year with 300,000+ customers.
• Microsoft and Nvidia committed $15 billion combined investment in the AI startup.
• OpenAI also preparing for public offering, creating competition for largest AI IPO.

Anthropic has brought on Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati to handle preparations for a possible initial public offering in 2026. The Financial Times broke the story Tuesday based on information from sources close to the discussions.

The AI company behind the Claude chatbot selected Wilson Sonsini for its track record with major tech IPOs. The law firm previously guided Google, LinkedIn and Lyft through their public debuts.

A company spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that Anthropic has not made final decisions about going public. The spokesperson noted that companies of Anthropic’s size typically operate with public company standards regardless of listing status.

Wilson Sonsini has advised Anthropic on corporate matters for multiple years. The firm declined to comment on the IPO preparations outside business hours.

Sources told the Financial Times that Anthropic held early conversations with large investment banks about the potential offering. These discussions remain informal without underwriter selection.

Funding and Valuation Plans

Anthropic is working on a private funding round that would push its valuation past $300 billion. Microsoft and Nvidia plan to contribute $15 billion total to this round.

The company’s most recent private valuation stood at $183 billion. Reports from November suggested the valuation had climbed to $350 billion after the Microsoft and Nvidia investments.

Anthropic agreed to spend $30 billion on Microsoft cloud services as part of the funding arrangement. The company also announced plans for $50 billion in AI infrastructure spending across Texas and New York data centers.

CEO Dario Amodei founded the startup in 2021 alongside other former OpenAI employees. Alphabet’s Google and Amazon both hold investment positions in the company.

Revenue Growth and Market Position

Anthropic expects annual revenue to potentially hit $26 billion next year. This represents roughly triple the current revenue run rate.

The company reports serving over 300,000 business and enterprise clients. Recent hiring included Krishna Rao, formerly of Airbnb, who helped manage that company’s 2020 IPO.

Anthropic has expanded its international team significantly, tripling workforce numbers in overseas markets. The company competes directly with OpenAI in the AI assistant market.

OpenAI is also moving toward a public offering with potential 2026 timing. Reuters reported OpenAI could file with regulators in the second half of 2026.

OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar stated in November that the company has no immediate IPO plans. This came after OpenAI closed a $6.6 billion funding round at $500 billion valuation in October.

The potential OpenAI listing could reach valuations up to $1 trillion. Both companies face questions about profitability as they pursue public offerings.

A public listing would provide Anthropic with additional capital raising options and stock for acquisitions. The company continues scaling operations as enterprise AI spending grows across industries.

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