Privacy-focused AI platform Venice AI has crossed a major milestone, securing a $65 million Series A that values the company at $1 billion. The round marks its first external funding and signals strong investor confidence in a model built around user control and data protection.
Founded just two years ago, Venice AI says it now attracts more than 3 million active users and processes an average of 1.7 million API calls per day. The platform gives access to more than 200 AI models, including open-source systems hosted on its own infrastructure and closed-source models routed through external providers.
The company's core promise is simple: keep user data private. Input is encrypted, processed through an external proxy, and not stored on Venice's systems. Some models also support end-to-end encryption for subscribers, reinforcing the platform's privacy-first positioning.
CEO Erik Voorhees says Venice is already profitable, with annualized revenue above $70 million. The company plans to use the new capital to buy GPUs and build its own data centers, reducing dependence on leased infrastructure and improving margins.
Venice also offers customizable AI characters and tools for text, image, audio, and video generation, giving users a broad creative workspace. With its mix of scale, privacy, and model variety, the startup is positioning itself as a notable alternative in the fast-moving AI landscape. The next phase of growth could help shape a future where advanced AI and personal data protection evolve together.