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June 17, 2026
Funding & Investment

World model maker Odyssey nabs $1.45B valuation backed by Amazon and other big names

Overview

World models are the next big thing in AI beyond LLMs and, with this round, Odyssey has cemented itself as one of the startups to watch. 45B valuation backed by Amazon and other big names Odyssey, a world model AI startup founded by self-driving vehicle pioneers CEO Oliver Cameron and CTO Jeff Hawke, has raised a $310 million Series B round at a $1. 45B valuation led by Natural Capital, with Amazon, AMD Ventures, GV, and others participating.

Key Takeaways

  • World models are the next big thing in AI beyond text- and chat-based large language models.

    They gather data from the physical world and simulate it with accurate physics.

  • (Google drives camera-equipped cars around.

    ) That approach makes sense given the backgrounds of the founders.

  • It is perhaps best known for producing rich, interactive video from text prompts.

    With the backing from Amazon, the startup says AWS is now its preferred cloud provider and it will optimize its models to run on AWS's Trainium chips, a competitor to Nvidia's AI chips.

  • The company has now raised $337 million to date.

    Through candid fireside chats and high-impact networking, you'll walk away with valuable insights and new connections.

  • Some AI labs are already paying XDOF to do it.

Stats & Key Facts

  • #45B valuation backed by Amazon and other big names Odyssey, a world model AI startup founded by self-driving vehicle pioneers CEO Oliver Cameron and CTO Jeff Hawke, has raised a $310 million Series B round at a $1.
  • #Odyssey, founded in 2023, now offers a handful of world models for a variety of use cases, from video-game creation to robotics.
  • #The company has now raised $337 million to date.
  • #Topics AI , Fundraising , In Brief , odyssey , Startups , TC , world models June 18 Los Angeles Get an inside look at what it takes to scale and succeed from leaders at Mach Industries, Founders Fund, and Shinkei Systems.

World models are the next big thing in AI beyond text- and chat-based large language models. They gather data from the physical world and simulate it with accurate physics. In Odyssey's case, it has mimicked how Google Earth gathered data; the startup sent people out with cameras strapped to their backs .

(Google drives camera-equipped cars around. ) That approach makes sense given the backgrounds of the founders. Cameron was the co-founder and CEO of autonomous vehicle startup Voyage, which was acquired by GM's Cruise , where he later became VP of product; Hawke was an engineer at buzzy U.

Odyssey, founded in 2023, now offers a handful of world models for a variety of use cases, from video-game creation to robotics. It is perhaps best known for producing rich, interactive video from text prompts. With the backing from Amazon, the startup says AWS is now its preferred cloud provider and it will optimize its models to run on AWS's Trainium chips, a competitor to Nvidia's AI chips.

For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch AI.

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