Sentient launches AI agent platform Arena with backing from Founders Fund, Pantera

Open-source AI reasoning research lab Sentient (SENT) has announced the launch of its AI agent platform, Arena. The platform simulates corporate workflows and records the entire reasoning process, allowing thousands of developers to validate different approaches. It has attracted early-stage backing from prominent investment firms including Founders Fund, Pantera, and Franklin Templeton. Arena's first challenge will focus on document-based reasoning, a key task in corporate environments, with initial participants including AlphaXiv, Fireworks, OpenHands, and OpenRouter. Sentient noted that while 85% of companies want to adopt AI agents, less than 25% have adequate governance, projecting high demand for a platform that can verify performance. Arena is launching globally and will hold its first in-person event in San Francisco on March 14.