/Companies

Positron AI

Unicorn · $5B

Lovelock, US · Founded 2023 · Delaware corporation · 29 known investors

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Positron builds purpose-built hardware and inference accelerator silicon for running Transformer-based generative AI models, offering inference appliances that map HuggingFace Transformers models onto the hardware and expose an OpenAI API-compliant endpoint. Its products target AI infrastructure for high-performance, low-power model inference at scale.

Founders & leadership

Positron AI was founded in 2023 by Thomas Sohmers, Barrett Woodside, and Edward Kmett.

TSThomas Sohmers
Thomas SohmersFounder and CTOThomas Sohmers is co-founder and CTO of Positron AI, a fabless semiconductor company building chips and systems optimized for high memory capacity and bandwidth for generative AI inference. He previously founded two fabless semiconductor startups—REX Computing (energy-efficient DSP processors) and Terapute Technologies (cryptocurrency ASICs)—leading processor and ASIC architecture, and served as Principal Hardware Architect at Lambda, where he designed and built out an 800-GPU datacenter for its cloud GPU service.
BWBarrett Woodside
Barrett WoodsideFounder and VP of Product2023–2025Barrett Woodside is the founder of Positron AI, which develops inference accelerator hardware and silicon for running generative AI models. He has experience managing hardware, software, and web engineering teams and has worked on PCB design, firmware development, and business development including strategic partnerships.
EKEdward Kmett
Edward KmettFounder and Chief ScientistEdward Kmett is the founder of Positron AI, which builds hardware and inference accelerator silicon for running Transformer-based generative AI models. He has worked extensively in Haskell since 2006, served as founding chair of the Haskell core libraries committee, and sits on the boards of the Topos Institute and the Haskell Foundation.
MAMitesh Agrawal
Mitesh AgrawalChief Executive Officer

Board

RR
Robert ReidBoard director

Investors · 29

Unlesslisted by UnlessBoulder

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ARMreportedLagos

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Atreides ManagementreportedBoston

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Qatar Investment AuthorityreportedDoha

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Also in the syndicate · 6

ARENA Private WealthleadDFJ GrowthHelenaJim Clarkco-leadJump TradingleadResilience Reserve

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$309M disclosed across 2 of 3 rounds · 2025–2026

▶$233.9MraisedMay 2026 · 55 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Robert ReidDirector
  • Thomas SohmersExecutive Officer, Director
  • Mitesh AgrawalExecutive Officer, Director
  • Ari SchottensteinDirector
Offering amount
$233.9M
Amount sold
$233.9M
First sale
Jan 2026
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2023
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$75.1MraisedJul 2025 · 95 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Mitesh AgrawalExecutive Officer, Director
  • Robert ReidDirector
  • Thomas SohmersExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$76.2M
Amount sold
$75.1M
First sale
Jun 2025
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2023
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Valuation · disclosed

Disclosed events
$5Bvaluation at Series CSep 2026
filing ↗

Source: SEC prospectus filings, and round valuations the company or its investors disclosed — follow each entry's link for the claim.

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In the news

Frequently asked questions

What does Positron AI do?
Positron builds purpose-built hardware and inference accelerator silicon for running Transformer-based generative AI models, offering inference appliances that map HuggingFace Transformers models onto the hardware and expose an OpenAI API-compliant endpoint. Its products target AI infrastructure for high-performance, low-power model inference at scale.
Who founded Positron AI?
Positron AI was founded by Thomas Sohmers, Barrett Woodside, Edward Kmett in 2023.
Who are Positron AI's investors?
Positron AI's investors include Aloniq, Asimov Ventures, Banyan Ventures, Caucasus Ventures, Cisco Investments, Flume Ventures, Ineffable Ventures, Invariantes Fund and 15 more.
How much funding has Positron AI raised?
Positron AI has disclosed $309M raised across 2 of its 3 known rounds.
Where is Positron AI headquartered?
Positron AI is headquartered in Lovelock, US.