Despite being overshadowed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI's $11.3 billion funding, Aleph Alpha emphasizes its clients' 'full sovereignty' over AI implementation in their businesses. The start-up, which has about 70 employees, is more comparable to startups like France's Mistral, which assists large corporates in deploying LLMs internally. Aleph Alpha plans to expand its offerings while maintaining independence and flexibility for customers in infrastructure, cloud compatibility, on-premise support, and hybrid setups.
Key takeaways:
- German AI start-up Aleph Alpha has raised a Series B funding round of $500 million from a consortium of seven new investors, including Schwarz Group and Bosch Ventures, and existing investors.
- The company, founded in 2019, offers its clients 'full sovereignty' over the implementation of AI into their businesses, positioning itself closer to startups like France’s Mistral rather than Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
- The funding round was led by the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (Ipai), an AI hub based in Heilbronn, Germany, which aims to become Europe's largest AI cluster.
- Aleph Alpha, which has about 70 employees, focuses on EU-regulated data protection, security and often collaborates with governmental bodies, law enforcement and healthcare.