Mistral AI nears $14 billion valuation — Europe braces for a new wave of investment
Paris / Europe, September 2025 — French startup Mistral AI, one of the brightest players in Europe’s AI ecosystem, is on the verge of closing a major funding deal valuing it at around $14 billion. This is not just a leap in capitalization but also in weight and influence: Mistral is positioning itself as one of the strongest competitors to OpenAI outside the U.S.
A key point — the involvement of Dutch company ASML, a leading manufacturer of advanced lithography systems. ASML plans to invest about €1.3 billion (~$1.5 billion), leading a total round of around €1.7 billion. This makes ASML the largest shareholder in Mistral and secures it a seat on the board of directors.
The pre-money valuation is estimated at ~€10 billion (~$11.7 billion), making Mistral one of the most valuable AI startups in Europe.
For Mistral, the next phase will focus on strengthening commercial operations — scaling cloud services, expanding teams, developing models like “Le Chat”, and enhancing work on open-weight models. The valuation and ASML’s strategic investment also reinforce the case for European technological autonomy — reducing dependence on major American and Chinese players. mistral.ai
