Perplexity AI raises $100M, hits $18B valuation

Perplexity AI has secured an additional $100 million in funding, taking its valuation to $18 billion. The raise is an extension of its earlier funding round from May 2025, which had pegged the company’s worth at approximately $14 billion. The latest capital infusion reflects sustained investor interest in the company’s AI-native search capabilities and rapid commercial growth.

Investor participation and funding background

The extension included participation from existing and new investors, including Nvidia, SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and Institutional Venture Partners (IVP). Previous backers such as Jeff Bezos and artificial intelligence researcher Yann LeCun have also supported the company in earlier rounds.

Perplexity’s leadership, headed by CEO Aravind Srinivas, has stated that the company plans to remain independent. Srinivas has ruled out acquisition by large technology firms and indicated the possibility of a public listing in the future.

User base and revenue growth

As of April 2025, Perplexity reports having around 30 million users globally. Its user base has expanded rapidly over the past year, with corresponding growth in platform usage. The company has also recorded a sharp increase in revenue, from an estimated $35 million annual run rate in mid-2024 to approximately $150 million by July 2025.

Perplexity generates revenue through a combination of subscription plans, contextual advertising, and integrated e-commerce services. Its platform is available in both free and paid versions, with the latter offering enhanced features, faster response times, and early access to new tools.

Product updates and market expansion

In July 2025, Perplexity launched Comet, an AI-powered web browser designed to support automated search, task handling, and summarisation. The browser integrates the company’s real-time AI engine into a full browsing experience, positioning it as an extension of its core search functionality. Comet is currently available to premium subscribers and is being tested in enterprise environments.

The company has also announced a partnership with Bharti Airtel, offering a 12-month complimentary subscription to Perplexity Pro for Airtel’s mobile user base in India. The collaboration is aimed at increasing accessibility and local market penetration, and marks one of Perplexity’s first large-scale telecom tie-ups.

Following the recent funding round, the company has indicated plans to expand its enterprise offerings, invest in infrastructure, and continue product development. No public listing timeline or acquisition discussions have been formally disclosed.