Sapien AI, a startup focused on blockchain-based infrastructure for training artificial intelligence (AI) models, has secured $5 million in Series A funding. The investment round was led by Primitive Ventures, Animoca, Ravikant Capital, and Yield Guild Games.

The AI Data Marketplace

Sapien AI is building an AI data marketplace for enterprises by creating a network of human-powered AI training data. The platform allows users to contribute by labeling text, images, and other forms of data, helping machine learning models learn from this data.

Through this crowdsourced approach, Sapien AI aims to generate high-quality training data for AI models across various industries, including Web3, healthcare, education, and large language models (LLMs).

Gamified Data Labeling with Blockchain Integration

One of the key features of Sapien AI's platform is its gamified data labeling process, which incentivizes and rewards accurate annotations using blockchain technology. The company refers to these data labelers as "Sapiens," positioning them as a crucial component in powering today's most important AI models.

Trevor Koverko, co-founder of Sapien AI, expressed excitement about the support from investors, stating, "We are thrilled to have the support of our investors on our path to building the world's largest network of 'Sapiens' – our brand for the millions of humans globally who power today's most important AI models."

The additional funding will be used to accelerate the development of Sapien AI's blockchain-powered gamified data labeling platform, enabling more efficient and accurate AI training.

Combining Technology and Human Knowledge

James Ho, Head of Animoca Ventures, highlighted Sapien AI's unique approach to data labeling, which combines cutting-edge technology with human knowledge, as a key distinction. He stated, "We think the team will be a great partner for businesses trying to train their AI models with the best data available because of their in-depth knowledge of the industry and dedication to customer success."

By leveraging the power of blockchain and gamification, Sapien AI aims to create a more efficient and accurate data labeling process, ultimately leading to better-trained AI models that can benefit various industries.

The Rise of Web3 and AI Convergence

Sapien AI's funding round is part of a growing trend of Web3 companies seeking to combine artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies. Recently, FLock, an AI training company, raised $6 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed, while MyShell, a Web3 AI startup, raised $11 million in pre-Series A funding led by Dragonfly. Additionally, Raiinmaker, another AI training startup, secured $7.5 million in investment from Jump Capital and Cypher Capital.

As the convergence of AI and Web3 continues to gain momentum, startups like Sapien AI are well-positioned to drive innovation and create new opportunities in this rapidly evolving space.