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- 3.5B Followers Summit? Also QIA-Backed Anthropic Raising again & A Multi-Million Dollar Fund is Here
3.5B Followers Summit? Also QIA-Backed Anthropic Raising again & A Multi-Million Dollar Fund is Here
Friday, January 9, 2026
Happy Friday everyone!
For our main stories today: QIA-backed Anthropic is raising $10 billion at a valuation of $350 billion, while a multi-million dollar fund is taking shape in Abu Dhabi courtesy Ethmar International Holding And Guggenheim Brothers Media Partner.
Smashi Business is a Media Partner at 1B Followers Summit
We will be doing our Smashi Business Show today live from the 1 Billion Followers Summit with the picturesque Museum of the Future in Dubai as our backdrop. The event, which claims to be the largest content creator expo, is expecting 30K+ attendees, 15K+ content creators and 420+ speakers, including Mr Beast (who alone has 1 billion followers across all platforms), Simon Squibb, Will Smith, Max Amini, Simon Squibb, Rio Ferdinand, and even Mufti Menk. A total followership of 3.5 billion will be present through content creators at the summit.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 is themed "Content for Good" and is organized by the UAE Government Media Office under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
See our socials for what’s happening!
QIA-Backed Anthropic Seeks $10B At $350B Valuation
What’s it About?
Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude chatbot and previously backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, is in talks to raise about $10 billion in new funding at a pre-money valuation of roughly $350 billion. Singapore’s GIC and Coatue Management are expected to lead the round, with Microsoft and Nvidia also anticipated to participate, according to people familiar with the matter quoted by Bloomberg.
Why it Matters?
If completed, the deal would place Anthropic among the world’s most valuable private technology companies, underscoring sustained investor appetite for frontier AI. The talks follow a $13 billion Series F round in September 2025 that valued the company at $183 billion and included QIA. Anthropic’s rapid revenue growth, driven by enterprise demand for Claude and coding tools, has reinforced its appeal to global investors.
What’s Next?
The fundraising signals a shift in Anthropic’s stance toward Gulf capital, with the company now open to investment from Qatar and the UAE despite earlier reservations. Chief executive Dario Amodei has acknowledged ethical concerns while arguing such capital is increasingly necessary to compete at scale. Anthropic says it will keep core AI infrastructure in the US while expanding commercially in the Middle East.
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Ethmar And Guggenheim Brothers Media Partner To Launch Multi-Million-Dollar Abu Dhabi Investment Fund
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What’s it About?
Ethmar International Holding and Guggenheim Brothers Media have partnered to launch a multi-million-dollar investment fund based in Abu Dhabi, with a global mandate focused on media, entertainment, and the digital creative economy. The fund will invest across content creation, creator tools, digital IP, entertainment technologies, fan engagement platforms, and next-generation storytelling, combining EIH’s regional strength with GB Media’s global creative investment expertise.
Why it Matters?
The partnership reinforces Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global hub for creative industries and next-generation content. Backed by the Guggenheim family’s cultural legacy and led by seasoned executives Dillon Lawson-Johnston and Criswell Fiordalis, the fund aims to attract and scale high-growth creative companies. It also highlights rising institutional interest in the creator economy as a driver of both economic diversification and cultural influence.
What’s Next?
As the fund moves toward launch, it will begin deploying capital into early to growth-stage creative businesses with global potential. From its base in Abu Dhabi, the platform aims to provide founders with strategic support, industry access, and long-term capital. The partners expect the fund to act as a catalyst for new creative ventures, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a future-focused, globally connected media and innovation centre.
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