Nvidia has emerged as a frontrunner in the AI revolution, experiencing significant growth in revenue, profitability, and cash reserves since the introduction of ChatGPT over two years ago, leading to a surge in its stock price. Capitalizing on this success, the company has increased its investments in startups, particularly in AI, significantly ramping up its venture capital activity in 2024 with participation in 49 funding rounds, up from 34 in 2023.

This marks a stark contrast to the previous four years combined, during which Nvidia funded only 38 AI deals, excluding its NVentures corporate VC fund, which also expanded its activity. As of 2025, Nvidia has participated in seven additional funding rounds, aiming to support "game changers and market makers" in the AI ecosystem. Notable investments include: **The Billion-Dollar Club:** - **OpenAI:** Nvidia supported the ChatGPT creator with $100 million in a massive $6. 6 billion round. - **xAI:** Participated in a $6 billion round for Elon Musk's AI venture. - **Inflection AI:** A $1. 3 billion round saw Nvidia among the lead investors, despite the company’s founders later being bought by Microsoft. - **Wayve:** Invested in a $1. 05 billion round for an autonomous driving startup. - **Scale AI:** Joined a $1 billion funding round for a company known for data-labeling services. **Hundreds of Millions Club:** - **Crusoe:** Participated in a $686 million round aimed at leasing data centers. - **Figure AI:** Backed a $675 million Series B funding for an AI robotics startup. - **Mistral AI:** Invested $640 million in a French language model developer. - **Lambda:** Contributed to a $480 million funding round for an AI cloud provider. - **Cohere and Perplexity:** Both secured $500 million rounds with Nvidia's involvement. Nvidia has also participated in several rounds exceeding $100 million for other startups, including Ayar Labs, Kore. ai, and Hippocratic AI. Overall, Nvidia's strategic investment approach not only seeks financial returns but also aims to enhance the broader AI landscape by supporting innovative startups.