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LMArena Secures $150 Million to Build the World's Most Trusted AI Evaluation Platform

In a significant milestone for the AI industry, LMArena, a community-driven platform, has recently announced that it raised $150 million in new funding, reaching a post-money valuation of $1.7 billion—a remarkable increase from its earlier valuation following its seed round. This funding was led by notable investment firms including Felicis and University of California Investments, along with participation from heavyweights like Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins.

The Vision Behind LMArena

LMArena has redefined how AI progress is measured, focusing on the need for transparency and accountability in AI evaluations. With the surge in AI technologies reaching billions globally, industry leaders are advocating for responsible scaling of AI, emphasizing that AI cannot advance effectively without thorough assessments by independent third parties.

According to Anastasios Angelopoulos, co-founder and CEO of LMArena, "We cannot deploy AI responsibly without knowing how it delivers value to humans." The platform aims to utilize real feedback from millions of users to refine its AI evaluation processes. This funding will help expand their technical team and enhance research capabilities, ultimately leading to more reliable evaluations of AI models.

A Global Community of AI Enthusiasts

LMArena's user base has grown exponentially, now boasting over 5 million monthly users across 150 countries. These users engage in over 60 million conversations monthly, allowing LMArena to gather intricate data on various AI models in real-world applications, from coding and textual reasoning to medicine and digital creativity.

The holistic understanding derived from diverse user experiences is central to LMArena's evaluations, establishing a gold standard for AI assessments. This approach reflects a broad acceptance in the industry that real-world performance matters. Peter Deng, General Partner at Felicis, mentioned, "Progress in AI can't be assessed only in labs by benchmarks; it needs to reflect how real users want to use these systems."

Meeting the Demand for Reliable AI Evaluation

The growing competition among AI labs has created a pressing demand for trustworthy evaluations. LMArena collaborates with top-tier organizations, including OpenAI and Google, providing essential feedback that informs their models' adaptations for practical use. By offering evaluation services to AI labs and enterprises, LMArena supports the usability of AI across sectors like software engineering, law, and medicine.

Launched in September 2025, the commercial arm of LMArena’s evaluation service has achieved an annualized consumption run rate exceeding $30 million within just four months, indicating robust demand and acceptance.

This investment solidifies LMArena's role as essential infrastructure within the AI landscape, underpinned by a commitment to open standards and methodological transparency. Jagdeep Singh Bachher, Chief Investment Officer of the University of California, emphasizes the importance of trustworthy evaluations, stating, "Without a reliable way to measure performance, AI can't be safely scaled. LMArena provides clarity that is crucial as AI adoption increases."

Looking Ahead

As AI continues to evolve, the need for reliable evaluation methods will only increase. LMArena is at the forefront of this transformation, establishing itself not just as a platform but as the backbone of responsible AI advancement. By integrating user feedback into the AI lifecycle, LMArena equips developers, researchers, and everyday users with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of AI technologies in a transparent manner.

To learn more about LMArena and its groundbreaking approach to AI evaluation, visit lmarena.ai.

With a vision to democratize AI, LMArena is setting the path for future innovations and applications while ensuring that AI remains user-friendly, reliable, and accountable.