Last month Lambdawhich offers computer services and equipment for training of artificial intelligence software, collected a D series value $ 480 million apparently The company was valued at $ 2.5 billion.
On the same day, Together AIThe cloud platform programmer, to permit programmers to rely on open and non -standard artificial intelligence models, raised a funding round of $ 305 million with a valuation of $ 3.3 billion.
What connects the rounds is one investor: chip giant Nvidia.
This mustn’t be a surprise for anyone who has watched AI financing in the last two years Microsoft He agreed to a multi -person investment by many billion dollars Openai – The first and loudest shot at Big Tech Artific Intelligence ARMS began playing.
Nvidia is still ahead of other huge AI players, akin to Microsoft and Google Both in terms of financing rounds, in which he participates in AI startups and the total value of those rounds. (It can’t be said how much Nvidia has invested in most rounds as a specific package in the round, it is not normally disclosed).
Let’s take a look at what these three technological titans-who were the most interesting when it involves startups supported by VC in AI-DROZED Over the past yr.
Nvidia
Last yr, Nvidia took part in 26 rounds, which amounted to $ 18.8 billion, on Crunchbase data. This is significantly ahead of two dozens of offers in 2023, which amounted to $ 4.5 billion.
However, truthfully, the sum of the dollar is disgusted because the chipmaker took part XAIRound $ 6 billion in November and a huge OPENAI transaction value $ 6.6 billion in October.
In addition to those offers, Nvidia also took part in the London automotive startup WayveRound of $ 1.1 billion and labeling data and evaluation labeling Scales toA rune value $ 1 billion, which valued him with a stunning $ 13.8 billion, each in May.
What may be the most impressive in investing AI Nvidia is the way it drives the overall strategy of corporate investments. In 2022, Nvidia invested in nine financing rounds, on Crunchbase. In each of the last two years he participated in 36 a yr.
Company’s enterprise arm, NventuresHe was also energetic – although on a much smaller scale. Last yr, it took part in 14 investments, and the rounds were $ 89 million on Crunchbase data. This was a bit before 2023, when the investment arm participated in 11 transactions, which amounted to $ 824 million.
Microsoft
Perhaps, surprising, the same can’t be said about Microsoft.
Last yr, a technological giant based in Washington took part in nine investments in AI start-ups, and the rounds amounted to almost $ 10 billion at Crunchbase data. It was a bit in 2023, when he participated in dozens of offers, which amounted to $ 12.2 billion.
Some of the largest offers of Microsoft actually coincide with NVIDIA, because it took part in each the aforementioned rounds for OpenAI and Wayve, in addition to huge funds for Character AND Bright machines.
However, the manufacturer of Windows was also on the first pages of newspapers, when it poured a strategic strategic investment of $ 1.5 billion in the United Arab Emirates G42.
Company’s enterprise arm, M12He still maintains a quite coherent pace. Last yr, the company took part in 10 financing rounds, which amounted to $ 268 million on Crunchbase data. Similarly, in 2023 he took 9 transactions with a total value of $ 442 million.
Microsoft has not yet returned to the intensive investment of WW this yr in startups supported by VC, collaborating in only a small round in front of Guidenai.
While a slight decrease in Microsoft in AI financing may be surprising, a Google drop is very eye -catching.
The search giant recorded a decrease in corporate investing by two -thirds, being a part of only 4 offers, which amounted to $ 3.2 million, on Crunchbase data. His largest round was the lead CharacterxSEP ROUNDS 2.8 million dollars.
In 2023, Google took part in several rounds with a total value of just about $ 3.6 billion.
On the side, his arm’s arm, GVHe was quite energetic last yr, collaborating in 22 contracts, which amounted to a huge $ 1.5 billion on Crunchbase data. This includes being a part of the E series value $ 250 million In the courtyardA platform that permits firms to create web applications in the cloud. The latest round was valued by a startup at $ 3.25 billion.
GV was also a part of the D series for $ 400 million LightmatterA startup that uses light to mix systems and perform calculations regarding deep learning essential for artificial intelligence. The round valued the company at $ 4.4 billion.
Strategies changing?
Unlike Microsoft, Google seems to develop. In January, the search giant invested one other $ 1 billion in Anthropic. Earlier Google invested $ 2 billion in the Openai rival.
Then, last month, Google participated in Humanoid Robotics Company AptronikAn enormous series and $ 350 million B capital AND Capital Factory.
While Google and Nvidia still seem interested in investing in the world of startups, complex relationships of Microsoft from OpenAI – each a partner and a competitor who appears to be hugged to akin to such Softbank AND Oracle – And his retreat in 2024 appears to be more focused on internal development.
It also seems clear that NVIDIA will proceed to take a position and push this current AI-Taki ecosystem that feeds and dominates with its high-performance systems.
Regardless of the changing strategies, these three AI players still bring a lot of money to the table for startups that want to provide themselves a brand in AI space.