John Borthwick’s venture firm Betaworks wrote the first check Hugging Face ever received, and now owns a stake that could be worth $650 million. Other early investors also did handsomely.

The deal highlights the soaring value of AI startups, with Hugging Face becoming a key player in the machine learning community. Betaworks' early bet has paid off significantly, showcasing the importance of seed-stage investing in transformative technologies.

Hugging Face, known for its open-source AI models and libraries, has attracted major attention from tech giants and investors alike. The company's growth reflects the broader boom in artificial intelligence, with valuations climbing rapidly.

For Betaworks, this success underscores its strategy of identifying promising startups early. The firm's stake, now worth hundreds of millions, validates its approach and positions it well for future opportunities in the AI sector.