图片来源： Gradium Gradium 创始人合影，从左至右：首席技术官 Olivier Teboul 、首席科学官 Alexandre Défossez 、首席执行官 Neil Zeghidour 、首席编码官 Laurent Mazaré 。 一家名为 Gradium 的巴黎人工智能语音初创公司， 从非营利研究实验室中独立出来，并获得了 7000 万美元的融资， 投资方包括前谷歌首席执行官埃里克· 施密特和法国电信亿万富翁泽维尔·尼尔等一线投资者。 这轮融资定于周二宣布，由 FirstMark Capital 和 Eurazeo 领投。 DST Global 、 Amplify Partners 、运输大亨罗道夫·萨阿德及其他投资人也参与了投资。 Gradium 由来自 Alphabet Inc. 旗下谷歌、 Meta Platforms 及 Jane Street 的工程师和研究人员创立，目标是开发 AI 模型，使客户能够构建需要语音和音频 元素的应用程序。 其技术能够执行语音生成和转录等任务，同时还能转换语音音调并理解语音。 通过成立 Gradium ，该团队希望将 Kyutai 的研究成果商业化 ...

Core Insights - Benchmark has experienced significant leadership changes, losing three General Partners (GPs) in the past two years, while also adding a new GP, Everett Randle, who has a strong background in AI investments [1][4][5] Group 1: Leadership Changes - Victor Lazarte, a key figure in Benchmark's investment in HeyGen, has left to start his own VC firm, marking a notable shift in the firm's leadership [1] - Everett Randle, previously a partner at KP, has joined Benchmark, bringing a wealth of experience in AI investments [1][2] - The firm has emphasized a flat organizational structure, valuing equal power and responsibility among partners [5] Group 2: Investment Performance - Benchmark's investments in AI have yielded impressive results, with many projects experiencing rapid revenue growth or securing multiple funding rounds [5] - Recent notable investments include a $25 million Series A round for an AI document product and a $105 million Series B round for Cursor, an AI programming tool [6] - The firm has also led significant funding rounds for AI-related projects, such as $85 million for Exa, which aims to create AI-centric search solutions [7] Group 3: Notable Projects and Valuations - Benchmark's early investments in AI projects like Cerebras have resulted in substantial valuations, with Cerebras recently achieving an $8.1 billion valuation after a $1.1 billion Series G round [8] - The firm has invested in various AI sectors, including AI coding, bug detection, and sales tax compliance automation, showcasing a diverse portfolio [6][8] - Benchmark's involvement in projects like HeyGen and Manus highlights its influence in the Chinese market, with HeyGen achieving $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) [8]