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Handshake Buys Cleanlab to Enhance AI Data
29 Jan
Summary
- Handshake acquired Cleanlab for talent and technology.
- Nine Cleanlab employees, including three MIT PhDs, join Handshake.
- The acquisition aims to improve the quality of data for AI labs.

AI data labeling company Handshake announced its acquisition of Cleanlab, a startup specializing in data quality auditing. The deal, primarily an acqui-hire, integrates nine Cleanlab employees, including its co-founders who hold PhDs from MIT, into Handshake's research organization.
This acquisition is aimed at improving the quality of data Handshake supplies to major AI laboratories. Cleanlab's expertise in developing algorithms to identify incorrect data without additional human review will bolster Handshake's efforts to ensure high-quality data production for foundational AI models.
Cleanlab had previously raised $30 million from investors and grew to over 30 employees. Its CEO noted that Handshake was chosen over other AI data labeling companies due to Handshake's role as a primary source for specialized human labelers, such as doctors and lawyers.
Handshake, valued at $3.3 billion in 2022, is projected for substantial revenue growth, with an annualized revenue run rate expected to reach hundreds of millions by the end of 2025. The company has already supplied data to eight top AI labs, including OpenAI.




