Nous Research Hits $1.5B Valuation and Launches Business AI Agents

Nous Research confirmed it raised a $90 million Series B at a $1.5 billion valuation, backing up earlier reporting from TechCrunch. The company develops the open source Hermes Agent and is three years old, according to the article.

The round was led by Robot Ventures, with participation from Nvidia, Union Square Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Samsung, and 1789 Capital. The financing brings Nous Research’s total funding to $158 million.

Hermes Agent is described as popular among developers and individuals. Nous Research estimates the open source agent has been cloned more than 24 million times and drives roughly 2.5% of global AI token usage.

That developer traction matters because it gives the startup a base to build from as it shifts toward enterprise customers. For readers tracking AI infrastructure and agents, the key signal is that open source adoption is being positioned as a launchpad for business products.

Nous Research plans to use the new capital to expand into the enterprise sector with “Hermes for Businesses.” The product is designed to let companies deploy customized AI agents that can handle multi-step workflows while keeping data private and secure.

For business users, the practical takeaway is clear: the company is moving beyond individual and developer use cases into workplace automation. The focus on customized agents and data controls speaks directly to enterprise concerns around workflow reliability and information security.

The article cites The Wall Street Journal reporting that Nous Research was at roughly $36 million in annualized revenue by mid-September 2026. It also reported that the startup expects to pass $100 million before the end of 2026.

The next test is whether developer interest in Hermes Agent can translate into enterprise adoption for Hermes for Businesses. Watch for customer uptake, deployment details, and how Nous Research balances open source momentum with business-focused AI products.