Key Takeaways
• Nvidia backed $ 100 M+ rounds in 20+ AI startups since 2023 many now worth billions
• Investments range from autonomous driving to enterprise LLMs to healthcare AI
• Moves signal Nvidia’s strategy to control more of the AI stack, not just chips
• Even direct OpenAI rivals like xAI have received Nvidia’s backing
Why is Nvidia placing billion-dollar bets on its customers?
It’s not just about selling GPUs anymore. Nvidia has quietly become one of the most aggressive venture players in AI, backing startups that both use and drive demand for its tech. These aren’t fringe experiments—many are future-defining ventures like OpenAI, xAI, and Scale AI.
• 49 AI funding rounds backed in 2024, up from 34 in 2023
• NVentures, its corporate VC arm, did 24 deals in 2024 (just 2 in 2022!)
• Strategy: Back startups that make Nvidia GPUs essential
Who made the billion-dollar cut?
Here’s where things get massive. Nvidia joined a $6.6 billion OpenAI round (yes, after backing rival xAI too), a $1.05 billion round in autonomous driving startup Wayve, and a $1 billion check for Scale AI, which fuels data-labeling workflows.
• OpenAI: $6.6B round, $100M from Nvidia
• xAI: $6B round with Nvidia as a latecomer backer
• Inflection: $1.3B—then poached by Microsoft
• Wayve, Scale AI, Cohere, Perplexity: All hit $ 500 M+ with Nvidia’s money
So what’s the twist?
Nvidia isn’t just investing to make money; it’s investing to stay irreplaceable. Some of these startups even rent Nvidia chips by the hour (hello, CoreWeave and Lambda). Others build foundational models that need Nvidia’s tech to train, run, and scale.
“Nvidia’s goal is to expand the AI ecosystem by backing startups it considers to be game changers and market makers.”
Is it working?
Absolutely. Nvidia’s stock is soaring. It’s chips power nearly every AI system worth talking about. And thanks to strategic bets, it’s now embedded at every layer: from the LLMs (Cohere, Mistral) to the cloud infrastructure (Lambda, CoreWeave) to user-facing AI (Perplexity, Runway).
🚨 Nvidia’s AI Empire: Top Startup Bets Fueling Its Dominance
No one’s riding the AI wave harder than Nvidia.
Since ChatGPT’s debut, its revenue, stock price, and clout have exploded, but that’s not all.
Its venture strategy is just as aggressive.
Let’s break down Nvidia’s… pic.twitter.com/DqObIUb8DF
— AllAboutAI (@AllAboutAicom) June 19, 2025
What comes next?
More. In 2025 alone, Nvidia has backed 7 rounds already. The company isn’t slowing down, and as AI models get larger and more complex, Nvidia’s role as both fuel and funder only deepens.
• Expect more vertical bets: healthcare (Hippocratic), robotics (Figure AI), and media (Runway)
• Nvidia’s influence could shape which AI platforms survive—or even dominate
• Don’t be surprised if it funds rivals and partners alike—it’s playing the ecosystem
✅ Bottom line: Nvidia is no longer just a chipmaker—it’s building the AI universe from the inside out.
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