Nous Research raises $90M and rolls out enterprise AI agents
Nous Research has confirmed a $90 million Series B at a $1.5 billion valuation, led by Robot Ventures with backing from Nvidia, Union Square Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Samsung, and others. Its open source Hermes Agent has been cloned more than 24 million times and accounts for roughly 2.5% of global AI token usage, according to the startup's estimates. The company is launching Hermes for Businesses so companies can deploy customized, private AI agents for multi-step workflows.
Nous Research has closed a $90 million Series B, valuing the three-year-old company at $1.5 billion. Robot Ventures led the round, joined by Nvidia, Union Square Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Samsung, and 1789 Capital, where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner. Total funding now stands at $158 million.
Its open-source Hermes Agent has been copied over 24 million times and, by Nous's own estimate, powers about 2.5% of worldwide AI token consumption. The company reported roughly $36 million in annualized revenue by mid-September 2026 and aims to exceed $100 million by year-end, according to The Wall Street Journal. The new funding supports Hermes for Businesses, which lets firms deploy customized, private agents for multi-step workflows.
The move could push more companies to adopt AI agents for routine, multi-step work, potentially changing roles for employees who handle those tasks and altering how customers interact with services. Because Hermes can be deployed privately, firms with sensitive data may find it easier to experiment. At the same time, heavy reliance on a few agent platforms could raise questions about transparency, accountability, and access, especially for smaller organizations that may struggle to customize or audit such systems.