Editorial illustration for LeCun's AI Startup Nabla Raises EUR 500M, Valued at EUR 3B as LeBrun Steps Down
Yann LeCun's Nabla Scores €500M, Hits €3B Valuation
Yann LeCun seeks EUR 500 M for AI start-up valued at EUR 3 B; Alex LeBrun to step down
The AI startup world just got another major funding boost. Nabla, the artificial intelligence company co-founded by renowned AI researcher Yann LeCun, has secured a massive EUR 500 million funding round, pushing its valuation to EUR 3 billion.
But the real story isn't just about the money. Something significant is brewing beneath the surface of this financial milestone. The company is undergoing a strategic leadership transition that could reshape its future trajectory.
At the center of this shift is co-founder Alex LeBrun, who is stepping away from his current role. While leadership changes are common in tech, this one feels different - carefully orchestrated and supported by Nabla's board.
The move suggests a carefully planned succession strategy, with LeBrun poised to take on a new leadership role. Whispers of a strategic research partnership are already circulating, hinting at broader ambitions beyond Nabla's current operations.
So what exactly is happening behind the scenes? The company's own statement reveals the intriguing details of this leadership transition.
The leadership transition was confirmed by the company, which stated, "As part of a planned, board-supported transition, Nabla co-founder and CEO Alex LeBrun will transition from his role to become CEO of AMI Labs." Nabla has also entered into a strategic research partnership with AMI Labs. LeBrun will remain Nabla's chair and chief AI scientist, while Delphine Groll, Nabla's co-founder and COO, will lead the company during the search for a permanent CEO. Under the partnership, Nabla will receive early access to AMI Labs' world model technologies, which the company plans to use to develop agentic AI systems for healthcare that are intended to meet FDA certification requirements.
The funding talks follow November's report that LeCun was planning to leave Meta after 12 years to start his own AI company. LeCun is a French-American scientist, a Turing Award winner, and one of the pioneers of modern AI. AMI Labs will develop AI systems based on "world models"--architectures that can understand the physical world rather than relying primarily on language data.
The systems are intended for applications including robotics and transport. The work builds on research led by LeCun at Meta, involving AI models trained on video and spatial data, with features such as persistent memory, reasoning and planning. Meta will not invest directly in the start-up but plans to form a partnership that would give it access to the technology for commercial use, according to the report.
LeCun's departure comes amid broader changes to Meta's AI strategy under CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has shifted focus toward faster product development to compete with companies such as OpenAI and Google. Meta has scaled back longer-term research at its Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research unit, which LeCun founded in 2013, and laid off about 600 staff from the group in October.
Nabla's significant funding round signals a key moment for the AI startup. The EUR 500 million raise, valuing the company at EUR 3 billion, comes alongside a carefully orchestrated leadership transition.
Alex LeBrun's move to AMI Labs appears strategic, with board support ensuring a smooth handover. He'll remain chair and chief AI scientist at Nabla, maintaining a critical connection to the company's future.
Delphine Groll, Nabla's co-founder and COO, will temporarily steer the company while a permanent CEO search is underway. The accompanying strategic research partnership with AMI Labs suggests continued collaborative potential.
This leadership shift hints at deeper strategic ambitions. Nabla seems positioned to use its substantial funding and research connections, even as it navigates an executive transition.
The company's ability to secure such significant investment during a leadership change indicates strong investor confidence. Still, the ultimate impact will depend on Nabla's next steps and the yet-to-be-named permanent CEO.
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Common Questions Answered
How much funding did Nabla recently secure and what is its current company valuation?
Nabla raised EUR 500 million in a recent funding round, which pushed its company valuation to EUR 3 billion. This significant financial milestone represents a major achievement for the AI startup co-founded by Yann LeCun.
What leadership changes are happening at Nabla, and who will lead the company during the CEO search?
Co-founder and CEO Alex LeBrun is transitioning to become CEO of AMI Labs, with board support for this strategic move. Delphine Groll, Nabla's co-founder and COO, will temporarily lead the company while a permanent CEO is being sought.
What strategic partnership has Nabla entered into with AMI Labs?
Nabla has established a strategic research partnership with AMI Labs, which involves Alex LeBrun moving to lead AMI Labs while remaining Nabla's chair and chief AI scientist. The specific details of the research collaboration were not fully disclosed in the article.