Jeff Bezos throws his weight behind the rising AI player. His private investment company, Bezos Expeditions, leads a $72 million round at Toloka. Toloka is an AI startup that trains and evaluates AI models using real human inputs.
Bezos is not the only prominent supporter. Shopify CTO Mikhail Parakhin is also taking part in the round and will assume the role of board chairman on the company’s board of directors. Troka expands business using fresh capital injections, especially in the US
“This investment is a crucial step in the evolution of Troka and will allow the company to scale quickly and reduce its strategic focus as it accelerates global demand for reliable, high-quality AI data solutions,” the company said in a news release.
Toloka raises $72 million to expand AI model training with human experts
Troka is part of the Amsterdam-based Nebius Group, spun from Russian tech giant Yandex after the closing of a $5.4 billion deal last year. The split marked the biggest corporate break from Russia since the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Toloka has worked with some of the biggest names in Amazon, Microsoft, and Anthropic technology.
“Entreating world-class strategic investors like Jeff and Mikhail is a strong supporter of Troka’s business and leadership quality. As an Olga fanatic supporter and an outstanding Troka team from day one, I believe this is the best way for Troka to accelerate growth, grow on I Vertic’s large-scale opportunities, and to be present in large numbers at large opportunities. Arkady Volozh, founder and CEO of Nebius Group, said:
Commenting on the funding, Toloka founder and CEO Olga Megorkaya said:
“This investment marks a pivotal moment for Troka as we enter a new phase of growth. With strong financial support from strategic investors with a deep understanding of the AI landscape, we are now expanding innovation significantly at the critical intersection of human expert competence and AI capabilities.”
The company’s pitch is simple. Humans are still essential to ensure that AI outputs are accurate, reliable and usable. “There will always be a need for human expert control, verification and support to ensure that results are indeed high quality,” Toloka CEO Olga Megorskaya told Reuters.
Bezos’ involvement is a huge moment for Troka. Until recently, the company would not have attracted US investors due to sanctions tied to previous Russian ties. This investment gives the breathing patios and reliability of the troka as it seeks to grow outside of Europe.
Nvidia was another celebrity in the past $700 million round that Nebius raised last year.
Megorkkaya said the round was about freedom, not just capital. Nebius still holds the financial interests of Troka’s majority, but there is more room for Troka to return from voting control and operate independently. The company is already focusing on other future pay increases.
Bezos Expeditions did not comment on the deal.
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