Founder receives viral endorsements and multiple investment offers.
NanoCo, creators of the secure AI tool NanoClaw, have secured a $12 million seed funding round following a viral launch. This rapid growth attracted investment from notable firms like Docker and Slow Ventures, with angel investor Clem Delangue also contributing.
The project’s initial success stemmed from endorsements by prominent figures in tech, including AI researcher Andrej Karpathy and Singapore’s foreign minister. This interest led to multiple investors reaching out, including a $20 million acquisition offer that the founders declined.
For builders and operators, NanoClaw offers a sandboxed alternative to OpenClaw for enhanced security and scalability. The project’s success highlights the growing importance of secure AI solutions in enterprise environments, especially as companies seek to protect sensitive data more effectively.
Looking ahead, the Cohen brothers will focus on developing NanoClaw further with their newly raised capital. They aim to expand the project’s capabilities while maintaining its open-source nature, potentially integrating it with other tools like Hugging Face’s Reachy Mini.
What matters
- Gavriel Cohen turns down $20M buyout for his security-focused AI project.
- NanoClaw’s rapid growth prompts Cohen to raise $12M seed round.
- Project gains traction from Andrej Karpathy and Singapore’s foreign minister.
Why it matters
Project gains traction from Andrej Karpathy and Singapore’s foreign minister.
This GenAI News article was prepared in original wording using reporting and materials published by TechCrunch AI. Source reference: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/nanoclaw-creator-turns-down-20m-buyout-offer-raises-12m-seed-instead/.
Drafted by the GenAI News review pipeline.