# Menlo Ventures raises a record $3 billion fund on the back of its early Anthropic bet

> Menlo's fundraise is really a story about how concentrated AI venture returns have become: one early, oversized bet on Anthropic now anchors the firm's entire fifty year track record and its ability to raise a record fund. It shows limited partners are still willing to pour money into AI focused vehicles even as questions swirl about lab valuations, as long as a firm can point to a real realized winner. Expect more venture firms to lean on a single marquee AI stake the way Menlo is leaning on Anthropic's.

_Section: [AI Funding Tracker](https://www.wortins.com/funding) · Source: TechCrunch · Published Sunday, July 5, 2026_

## Wortins' read

Menlo's fundraise is really a story about how concentrated AI venture returns have become: one early, oversized bet on Anthropic now anchors the firm's entire fifty year track record and its ability to raise a record fund. It shows limited partners are still willing to pour money into AI focused vehicles even as questions swirl about lab valuations, as long as a firm can point to a real realized winner. Expect more venture firms to lean on a single marquee AI stake the way Menlo is leaning on Anthropic's.

## Source

[Read the full story at TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/after-betting-the-firm-on-anthropic-menlo-ventures-raises-victorious-3b-fund/)

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_Curated and written by [Wortins](https://www.wortins.com) — The daily AI briefing. Every story links to its original source; the "Wortins read" on each is our own original analysis. [About Wortins & our editorial approach](https://www.wortins.com/about)._