Headlines
Meta's Yann LeCun targets $3.5 billion valuation for new AI startup, FT reports
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 18, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 18, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Yann LeCun is raising €500M for a new AI startup, targeting a €3B valuation. The venture aims to develop superintelligent AI systems.
Dec 18 (Reuters) - Meta's outgoing chief artificial intelligence scientist Yann LeCun is holding early talks to raise 500 million euros ($586.00 million) for a new startup that would value the AI firm at about 3 billion euros ahead of its official launch, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
The report said LeCun has tapped Alexandre LeBrun, the founder of French health tech startup Nabla, as chief executive, citing people familiar with the matter.
LeCun played a key role in developing Meta's AI ambitions, and said last month that he will leave the social media giant at the end of the year to focus on a new startup that aims to build a new generation of superintelligent AI systems.
Strong funding commitments and a high valuation before launch could fuel fears of an AI bubble after industry leaders warned that enthusiasm for AI may have outstripped business fundamentals.
The startup plans to build AI systems using so-called world models that can understand the physical world. The systems could support applications including robotics and transport.
LeCun did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
He is widely regarded as one of the "godfathers" of deep learning, alongside Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio — a trio that won the 2018 Turing Award, often called the Nobel Prize of computing.
($1 = 0.8532 euros)
(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn. It encompasses various technologies, including machine learning and natural language processing.
A valuation is the process of determining the current worth of an asset or a company. This can involve various methods, including market comparisons and financial analysis.
Venture Capital is a form of private equity financing that is provided to startups and small businesses with long-term growth potential. Investors provide capital in exchange for equity ownership.
A startup is a newly established business, often in the early stages of development. Startups typically seek funding to grow and scale their operations, often focusing on innovative products or services.
The financial community refers to a network of individuals and organizations involved in finance, including banks, investors, financial analysts, and regulatory bodies, who interact in the financial markets.
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