Exploring Nvidia’s Leading AI Startup Investments
Nvidia has emerged as a dominant player in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, capitalizing on the ongoing AI revolution. Since the launch of ChatGPT, Nvidia’s revenue and market standing have soared to new heights, with a market capitalization reaching $4.5 trillion.
Nvidia’s Strategic Investments in AI Startups
To sustain its leadership in the AI arena, Nvidia has significantly ramped up its startup investments. The company was involved in 50 venture capital deals in 2025, already exceeding the total of 48 deals in 2024, according to PitchBook. These figures exclude investments from Nvidia’s corporate venture capital arm, NVentures, which has also seen a dramatic increase in activity.
The Role of NVentures
NVentures engaged in 21 deals in 2025, compared to just one in 2022. This surge in investment activity highlights Nvidia’s commitment to fostering innovation within the AI ecosystem by backing what it identifies as “game changers and market makers.”
Major Startup Investment Highlights
Below are notable startups that have received substantial funding involving Nvidia since 2023, categorized by the amount raised:
- OpenAI: Nvidia participated in a $100 million investment during a $6.6 billion funding round in October 2024, valuing the company at $157 billion.
- xAI: In December 2024, Nvidia was part of a $6 billion funding round for Elon Musk’s xAI, with plans to invest up to $2 billion.
- Mistral AI: Nvidia’s third investment in this French-based startup was during a €1.7 billion Series C round in September 2025.
- Reflection AI: In October, Nvidia led a $2 billion funding round, valuing this startup at $8 billion.
- Thinking Machines Lab: Nvidia joined investors in a $2 billion seed round for Mira Murati’s startup, valued at $12 billion.
- Inflection: Nvidia invested $1.3 billion in June 2023, co-founded by ex-DeepMind leader Mustafa Suleyman.
- Nscale: Nvidia backed Nscale’s $433 million SAFE funding in October 2025, following a $1.1 billion round in September.
Further Investment Ventures
Nvidia’s financial backing has spread across various sectors, from healthcare to autonomous driving:
- Wayve: A $1.05 billion investment in May 2024 supported this UK-based autonomous driving startup.
- Figure AI: Nvidia participated in a Series C funding of over $1 billion, valuing this humanoid robotics firm at $39 billion.
- Scale AI: Nvidia joined a consortium to invest $1 billion in this data-labeling service startup in May 2024.
- Commonwealth Fusion: Nvidia participated in an $863 million funding round for a nuclear fusion startup in August 2025.
Investment Trends and Future Outlook
Nvidia’s strategic investments underline its intent to lay the groundwork for an expansive AI landscape. The company is expected to continue identifying and investing in startups that demonstrate the potential to transform the industry.
This evolving strategy not only enriches Nvidia’s portfolio but also propels the AI ecosystem forward, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of technological innovation.
