How to invest in Anthropic

Anthropic is quickly becoming one of the biggest names in the AI space. Today, its Claude platform is capable of autonomously executing complex, multi-step projects from start to finish, meaning that it is fundamentally redefining what knowledge work, business operations, and software development look like. Wondering how to invest in Anthropic? We look at your different options – both pre-IPO and post-IPO – in this guide.

Who is Anthropic?

Anthropic is an AI company that was founded in 2021 by a group of former OpenAI executives – most notably Dario and Daniela Amodei – who split away to develop a model with a greater focus on safety. Its flagship product is Claude, an extremely powerful AI model that is similar to ChatGPT and Gemini.

While Claude doesn’t have as many users as ChatGPT and Gemini, it is seeing rapid adoption within the enterprise. This is leading to huge revenue growth and a surging valuation – as of April 2026, Anthropic had a $30 billion revenue run rate and a $380 billion valuation.

What’s so special about Claude?

Claude is a very powerful AI platform and it’s having a profound impact on office and professional work. With Claude, tasks that once took hours or days (e.g. drafting reports, summarising documents, conducting research, building presentations, analysing data) can now be handled in seconds meaning that it’s a game-changer for lawyers, analysts, developers, and consultants.

Note that software development has arguably seen the most dramatic transformation. With Claude Code, developers can delegate entire workflows – writing, debugging, refactoring, and testing code – to AI agents that work autonomously from the command line.

When is the Anthropic IPO?

As of April 2026, Anthropic has not officially set a date for its IPO. However, reports indicate the company is targeting a public listing in late 2026.

If the company does IPO in 2026, it is likely to be a major capital markets event. With a valuation of $380 billion today, it will be one of the largest IPOs of the year.

How to invest in Anthropic pre-IPO

There are a few platforms that offer exposure to pre-IPO Anthropic shares such as Hiive, EquityZen, and Forge Global. However, these platforms are designed for accredited investors meaning that most retail investors won’t be able to buy Anthropic shares via them.

That doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to invest in Anthropic pre-IPO, however. Another option is indirect exposure through funds.

Some UK funds that offer access to Anthropic include:

• Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust: Scottish investment manager Baillie Gifford has been a major backer of Anthropic, and the AI company’s shares are held in the investment manager’s flagship investment trust, Scottish Mortgage. At the end of February, Anthropic was 1.1% of the portfolio.
• Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust: This is a US-focused trust from Baillie Gifford. At the end of March, Anthropic was 3.3% of the portfolio.
• Schiehallion Fund – This Baillie Gifford fund specialises in late-stage private companies that are approaching potential IPOs. At the end of March, Anthropic was 3.2% of the portfolio.

Looking beyond funds, another option is to invest in tech companies that have backed Anthropic. Some names here include:

• Amazon: Amazon is a major partner to Anthropic and owns 15-20% of the company. To date, it has invested around $8 billion in it (this could be worth over $60 billion now).
• Google: Google was an early strategic backer of Anthropic. According to legal filings, it owns around 14% of the company.
• Microsoft: In a surprise move in late 2025, Microsoft diversified its AI bets by investing over $5 billion in Anthropic.
• Nvidia: In late 2025, Nvidia announced that it was investing $10 billion in Anthropic.
• Zoom: Zoom made a $51 million investment in Anthropic in 2023 when the AI company was valued at approximately $4.5 billion. So, that could now be worth over $4billion.
• Salesforce: Salesforce has participated in multiple funding rounds via Salesforce Ventures.

How to invest in Anthropic post-IPO

At this stage, it’s unclear as to whether retail investors will have access to the Anthropic IPO. If retail investors aren’t able to invest in the IPO, they will need to wait until the stock is trading to invest in the AI company.

To invest in Anthropic post-IPO, you’ll need an investment account with a reputable provider. Some options to consider here include:

• Hargreaves Lansdown: The UK’s largest investment platform, Hargreaves Lansdown is known for its vast offering, reliable platform, and good customer service.
• interactive investor: A solid alternative to Hargreaves Lansdown, it offers an attractive flat fee structure.
• Freetrade: Owned by IG Group, Freetrade is a good option for those looking for zero commissions on trades.
• Robinhood: One of the most innovative brokers in the market, Robinhood offers zero-commission trades, fractional shares, an AI assistant, and more.

Is investing in Anthropic risky?

Why Anthropic is having a lot of success today and seeing prolific revenue growth, the company is fairly risky from an investment perspective. For a start, it operates in a competitive space and is up against some very powerful rivals including Alphabet, OpenAI, and Meta Platforms. These companies could develop superior AI products. Ultimately, there is no guarantee that Claude will continue to see rapid adoption.

Secondly, its valuation is high. As of April 2026, it sits at $380 billion. That means that Anthropic is significantly bigger than any company in the UK. If growth slows, this valuation could come down.

Disclaimer: Edward Sheldon has positions in Amazon, Alphabet, Salesforce, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Robinhood