Jeff Bezos’ New AI Venture Debuts With Record Funding: 9 Other Startups That Launched With Massive Capital

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has stepped back into the CEO role—this time outside his e-commerce empire. Four years after leaving Amazon’s top post, Bezos is now co-leading a new artificial intelligence venture called Project Prometheus. The company, developed alongside former Google Moonshot Factory executive Vik Bajaj, aims to push the boundaries of AI-driven engineering and manufacturing.

According to a popular publication, Project Prometheus has already secured a staggering $6.2 billion in initial funding. While the exact amount contributed by Bezos remains undisclosed, the investment reflects his determination to build a powerful force in the AI space. With this massive backing, Project Prometheus becomes the most heavily funded startup at launch.

Funding plays a crucial role in determining how far and fast a startup can scale. While innovation is essential, financial support often decides whether a promising idea becomes a global business or fades away. Bezos, with deep pockets and an unmatched network, is ensuring his new venture begins far ahead of the curve.

But Project Prometheus isn’t the only startup that burst onto the scene with enormous capital. Over the years, several companies—ranging from biotechnology to space exploration—have attracted billion-dollar investments right from the start. Here’s a closer look at nine other startups that launched rich:

1. Altos Labs – $3 billion

Founded in 2022, Altos Labs focuses on cell rejuvenation aimed at reversing age-related diseases. Backed by influential investors—including Jeff Bezos—it raised a massive $3 billion at launch to advance its research into potentially reversing the ageing process itself.

2. Thinking Machines Lab – $2 billion

Created by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, Thinking Machines Lab is developing next-generation AI models with an emphasis on human-AI collaboration. In July 2025, the startup secured an impressive $2 billion in its seed round, supported by major industry players such as Nvidia and AMD.

3. Sierra Space – $1.4 billion

A spin-off from Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sierra Space focuses on commercial space technology and is known for the reusable Dream Chaser spaceplane. Its first external funding round in November 2021 brought in $1.4 billion.

4. Quibi – $1 billion

Quibi, launched in 2018, attempted to revolutionize mobile entertainment with short-form video content under 10 minutes. Supported by Hollywood giants like Disney and Sony Pictures, it raised $1 billion but shut down by December 2020 due to low user engagement.

5. Safe Superintelligence (SSI) – $1 billion

Founded by OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever, SSI focuses on developing safe and aligned superintelligent AI. The startup attracted $1 billion in seed funding in September 2024, underscoring investor interest in responsible AI.

6. Xaira Therapeutics – $1 billion

Blending AI and drug discovery, Xaira Therapeutics raised $1 billion in Series A funding in April 2024. The company uses AI systems to accelerate the development of new treatments.

7. TeraWatt Infrastructure – $1 billion

Specializing in large-scale EV charging infrastructure, TeraWatt initially raised $100 million in 2021. A year later, its Series A funding brought in an additional $1 billion to support expanding electric fleet charging networks.

8. MoonPay – $555 million

MoonPay aims to make cryptocurrency transactions simpler through traditional payment systems. Its first external funding round in 2021 secured $555 million, rapidly elevating it within the crypto services landscape.

9. Periodic Labs – $300 million

Periodic Labs focuses on AI-driven scientific research, building automated labs where AI can independently run experiments. In October 2025, the startup raised $300 million during its seed round.