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Kela raising $200 million at $1 billion valuation with backing from Bill Ackman and Eric Schmidt - CTech

Reported by Calcalistech
May 5, 2026· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Kela is raising $200 million at a $1 billion valuation, representing a significant funding milestone for the company with backing from prominent institutional investors.
  • • Bill Ackman's hedge fund and Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, are among the key backers participating in this funding round.
  • • The $200 million raise at a $1 billion post-money valuation signals strong investor confidence in Kela's business model and market opportunity.
  • • This funding round places Kela in the unicorn category, indicating substantial growth and strategic importance within its sector.
Summary
Kela has secured $200 million in new funding at a $1 billion valuation, marking a notable achievement in its growth trajectory. The funding round is backed by prominent investors including Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, and Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO and longtime technology industry figure.

Bill Ackman's participation in the round reflects continued confidence from major hedge fund managers in growth-stage opportunities. Ackman, whose hedge fund has demonstrated significant capital deployment across multiple sectors, joins the funding consortium supporting Kela's expansion. Eric Schmidt, whose net worth of approximately $36.6 billion remains substantially anchored in technology investments, brings both capital and strategic expertise from his tenure leading Google.

The $1 billion valuation represents a critical inflection point for Kela, elevating the company to unicorn status—a distinction reserved for privately held companies valued at or above $1 billion. This valuation level typically reflects substantial market validation and positions Kela for potential future strategic options, including institutional partnerships or public market activity. The $200 million capital injection provides significant runway for product development, market expansion, and operational scaling.

The participation of seasoned investors like Ackman and Schmidt underscores institutional appetite for Kela's value proposition and business fundamentals. Such backing from established alternative investment and technology sector veterans carries weight with limited partners and downstream investors, potentially facilitating future fundraising or strategic transactions.

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Sources

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Calcalistech Kela raising $200 million at $1 billion valuation with backing from Bill Ackman and Eric Schmidt - CTech