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The Hindu
04-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Alphabet's CapitalG, Nvidia in talks to fund Vast Data at up to $30 billion valuation, sources say
Alphabet's growth-stage venture arm CapitalG and Nvidia are in talks to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure provider Vast Data in a new funding round that could value the startup as high as $30 billion, two sources said. The startup is raising several billion dollars from tech giants, private equity and venture capital investors, which could make it one of the most valuable AI startups, the two sources with knowledge of the matter said, as companies building the backbone for the AI boom come into sharper focus. CapitalG and existing backer Nvidia are in discussions to participate in the round, which could close in the next few weeks, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to speak on private matters. New York-headquartered Vast Data develops storage technology specifically designed for large AI data centres, enabling efficient data movement between graphics processors (GPUs) made by the likes of Nvidia. Its clients include companies such as Elon Musk's xAI and CoreWeave, and its value in the AI supply chain makes it an attractive acquisition target, bankers and analysts said. Nvidia declined to comment, while Vast Data and CapitalG did not respond to requests for comment. TechCrunch earlier reported Vast Data's fundraising efforts, but the valuation of up to $30 billion and the expected involvement of CapitalG and Nvidia have not been reported previously. Vast Data CEO Renen Halak has said the company is free cash flow positive. The company earned $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by January 2025, with a strong backlog of orders and projections to grow ARR to $600 million next year, according to a separate source familiar with its financials. The company has raised roughly $380 million to date, and its last funding round in 2023 valued it at $9.1 billion. Vast Data has said it would consider an initial public offering at the right time. While no listing is imminent, according to another source familiar with the matter, investors and bankers view the data infrastructure firm as a likely IPO candidate. Vast Data last year hired Amy Shapero, its first chief financial officer, who was previously in the same role at publicly listed e-commerce giant Shopify, in a move that could signal preparations for an IPO. Mergers and acquisitions activity has also been heating up in the sector, and Nvidia has been acquiring companies that add complementary software and hardware products beyond its flagship GPUs. In 2020, it bought networking chip and cable maker Mellanox, which has helped Nvidia build integrated systems featuring its latest Blackwell chips. It has also acquired software companies such as Run:ai, which helps engineers optimise data centre AI hardware. Vast Data's storage architecture is based on a system of flash storage devices and other off-the-shelf hardware, combined with its specialised software for data access and movement. The company says adopting its technology can reduce the cost of building and running large AI models. Several companies, such as Weka and DDN, are pursuing similar efforts, but analysts and industry executives say Vast Data's technology is more mature than that of its rivals. Shares of Nvidia slumped 2.3% and Alphabet stock sunk 1.4% during regular trading on Friday.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Alphabet's CapitalG, Nvidia in talks to fund Vast Data at up to $30 billion valuation
Alphabet 's growth-stage venture arm CapitalG and Nvidia are in talks to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure provider Vast Data in a new funding round that could value the startup as high as $30 billion, two sources said. The startup is raising several billion dollars from tech giants, private equity and venture capital investors, which could make it one of the most valuable AI startups, the two sources with knowledge of the matter said, as companies building the backbone for the AI boom come into sharper focus. CapitalG and existing backer Nvidia are in discussions to participate in the round, which could close in the next few weeks, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to speak on private matters. New York-headquartered Vast Data develops storage technology specifically designed for large AI data centers, enabling efficient data movement between graphics processors (GPUs) made by the likes of Nvidia. Its clients include companies such as Elon Musk's xAI and CoreWeave, and its value in the AI supply chain makes it an attractive acquisition target, bankers and analysts said. Nvidia declined to comment, while Vast Data and CapitalG did not respond to requests for comment. TechCrunch earlier reported Vast Data's fundraising efforts, but the valuation of up to $30 billion and the expected involvement of CapitalG and Nvidia have not been reported previously. Vast Data CEO Renen Halak has said the company is free cash flow positive. The company earned $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by January 2025, with a strong backlog of orders and projections to grow ARR to $600 million next year, according to a separate source familiar with its financials. The company has raised roughly $380 million to date, and its last funding round in 2023 valued it at $9.1 billion. Vast Data has said it would consider an initial public offering at the right time. While no listing is imminent, according to another source familiar with the matter, investors and bankers view the data infrastructure firm as a likely IPO candidate. Vast Data last year hired Amy Shapero, its first chief financial officer, who was previously in the same role at publicly listed ecommerce giant Shopify, in a move that could signal preparations for an IPO. Mergers and acquisitions activity has also been heating up in the sector, and Nvidia has been acquiring companies that add complementary software and hardware products beyond its flagship GPUs. In 2020, it bought networking chip and cable maker Mellanox, which has helped Nvidia build integrated systems featuring its latest Blackwell chips. It has also acquired software companies such as Run:ai, which helps engineers optimize data center AI hardware. Vast Data's storage architecture is based on a system of flash storage devices and other off-the-shelf hardware, combined with its specialized software for data access and movement. The company says adopting its technology can reduce the cost of building and running large AI models. Several early-stage companies, such as Weka and DDN, are pursuing similar efforts, but analysts and industry executives say Vast Data's technology is more mature than that of its rivals.
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Business Standard
01-08-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Alphabet, Nvidia in talks to back AI firm Vast Data at $30 bn valuation
Alphabet's growth-stage venture division CapitalG and Nvidia are currently in discussions to invest in US artificial intelligence infrastructure firm Vast Data as part of a new funding round that may value the startup at as much as $30 billion, according to a report by Reuters. Vast Data is seeking to raise several billion dollars from major technology companies, private equity firms, and venture capital investors, potentially positioning it among the most valuable AI startups, as investors increasingly focus on the companies powering the AI revolution. CapitalG and Nvidia, an existing investor, are expected to participate in the upcoming round, which could conclude within the coming weeks. Based in New York, Vast Data specialises in storage solutions tailored for large-scale AI data centres, facilitating efficient data flow across graphics processing units (GPUs) produced by firms such as Nvidia. The company's client base includes notable names like Elon Musk's xAI and AI cloud-computing startup CoreWeave. According to bankers and analysts, Vast Data's strategic position within the AI supply chain enhances its appeal as a potential acquisition. TechCrunch previously reported on Vast Data's plans to raise capital. However, the possible $30 billion valuation and the involvement of CapitalG and Nvidia have not been disclosed until now. Vast Data expected to reach $600 million in revenue Vast Data's CEO, Renen Halak, has stated that the company is free cash flow positive. As of January 2025, it had achieved $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with a strong pipeline of orders and projections to reach $600 million in ARR the following year. To date, the company has raised approximately $380 million, and its most recent funding round in 2023 pegged its valuation at $9.1 billion. IPO prospects on the horizon The company has indicated its openness to pursuing an initial public offering (IPO) when the timing is appropriate. In a move that could reflect IPO preparations, the company appointed its first chief financial officer, Amy Shapero—formerly CFO at publicly traded e-commerce company Shopify—last year. While early-stage firms like Weka and DDN are pursuing similar goals, industry executives and analysts assert that Vast Data's technology is more developed than that of its competitors. The company's storage infrastructure combines flash storage components and other standard hardware with its proprietary software to optimise data access and movement. According to Vast Data, this architecture lowers the cost of developing and operating large-scale AI models.
