Baird Says Zoom's 2023 Investment in Anthropic Could Be Worth at Least $2 Billion

Investment Overview - Zoom's investment in Anthropic in 2023 is estimated to be worth between $2 billion and $4 billion, according to analysts from Baird [1] - The investment is seen as a potential "hidden gem" for Zoom, especially as the company seeks to enhance its revenue growth [3] Partnership Details - In May 2023, Zoom Ventures announced a partnership and investment in Anthropic, although the specific value of the investment was not disclosed [2][4] - A filing with the SEC indicated that Zoom made $51 million in strategic investments during the quarter [2] Valuation and Returns - Baird analysts estimate that most of Zoom's investment went to Anthropic, which is currently valued at $350 billion, suggesting a potential return of 78 times the initial investment [3] - Anthropic is reportedly aiming to raise $10 billion in a funding round that would further solidify its valuation at $350 billion, nearly double its previous valuation [5] Financial Performance - Anthropic's valuation increased significantly from $183 billion in a Series F funding round in September 2025, where it raised $13 billion [6] - The company's run-rate revenue surged from approximately $1 billion at the beginning of 2025 to over $5 billion by August, with its Claude Code tool generating over $500 million in revenue [6] AI Integration - Zoom plans to integrate Anthropic's AI assistant, Claude, into its platform, starting with the Zoom Contact Center [4] - In March, Zoom announced enhancements to its AI Companion, making it more agentic [7]