Perle Raises $9 Million Seed for Web3-Powered AI Data Platform

Perle, a web3-powered artificial intelligence project, has secured $9 million in a seed funding round led by Framework Ventures, bringing its total funding to $17.5 million [1]. The latest round follows an earlier $8.5 million pre-seed investment led by CoinFund in October 2024 [1]. The funding is intended to support the launch of Perle Labs, a platform designed to improve AI model training by incorporating blockchain-based incentives and onchain attribution for data contributors [1].

Ahmed Rashad, CEO of Perle and a former employee of Scale AI, emphasized the importance of high-quality data inputs in advancing AI capabilities. He noted that as AI models become more complex, their effectiveness depends increasingly on how they handle rare or ambiguous data scenarios. Perle’s approach involves decentralizing the data review and contribution process to reduce bias and enhance model performance [1].

According to Framework co-founder Vance Spencer, the future of AI progress is likely to be driven by improvements in data quality rather than model size alone [1]. Perle aims to provide a self-serve platform that supports the full AI development lifecycle, from data collection to model fine-tuning [1]. The startup’s platform is designed to offer curated data and human reviewer input, addressing the growing challenge of ensuring reliable and structured inputs for AI systems [1].

Perle’s initiative is part of a broader trend of venture capital interest in AI projects that integrate blockchain technology. The seed round follows similar investments, such as a $4.3 million raise by web3 infrastructure startup Play AI in July 2025 [2]. The inclusion of Perle’s funding news on cryptocurrency price tracking platforms like CoinGecko further underscores the convergence of blockchain and AI in investment strategies [3].

Framework Ventures, known for its early-stage investments in AI, DeFi, and blockchain, brings both financial support and strategic expertise to Perle’s development. The firm’s involvement is expected to facilitate the startup’s access to key industry networks and provide guidance as it scales its AI platform [1].

The investment reflects a growing recognition of the potential for decentralized systems to address current limitations in AI training data availability and quality. As AI models require vast amounts of high-quality input to perform effectively, web3 technologies offer innovative solutions for data ownership, distribution, and collaboration [1].

Source:

[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/perle-secures-9-million-seed-round-led-by-framework-ventures-to-launch-an-ai-data-training-platform-powered-by-web3-302524485.html

[2] https://www.blockchaingamer.biz/features/14400/updated-blockchain-game-investment-funding-list/

[3] https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/moondogs