Nvidia, the leading AI chipmaker, has significantly increased its investment in startups in the AI space, with a 280% jump in funding from 2022 to 2023. According to S&P Global and Crunchbase, Nvidia Ventures participated in around 46 deals last year.
Not to be outdone, Nvidia’s competitors such as AMD, Arm, and Intel have also been actively investing in startups to catch up in the competitive AI chip market, particularly in generative AI.
Curious about how these investments compare, we delved into Crunchbase data to analyze recent activity from the top AI chipmakers — Nvidia, AMD, Arm, and Intel.
Intel
Intel stands out with its robust startup investment operation through Intel Capital, deploying over $350 million in 2023 across investments in companies like AI21 Labs, Twelve Labs, Fly.io, and TuMeke. While Crunchbase data shows a slight decrease in total deals compared to 2022, Intel is exploring new software products and services, powered by GenAI, to enhance its AI applications.
Arm
Arm, known for licensing chipsets, made investments in ten startups in 2023, an increase from the previous year. With direct investments and through Deeptech Labs, Arm is expanding its portfolio in areas like quantum networking, 3D sensing tech, and automated inspections for wind turbines as it aims to boost sales of its AI chips.
AMD
Although AMD Ventures made fewer investments compared to its rivals, the company is looking to ramp up its activity in 2024 targeting the AI ecosystem. With plans to focus on AI platforms, generative model companies, and AI infrastructure offerings, AMD is gearing up for increased investment in the AI space.
By the numbers
Nvidia’s significant investments in startups are evident, with nearly a billion dollars funneled to non-affiliated firms in the first three quarters of 2023. The company’s dominance in the AI chip market is clear, prompting its competitors to step up their game to compete with Nvidia’s financial influence.
As Nvidia continues to solidify its position in the market, its rivals will need to work hard to keep up with the pace set by the leading chipmaker.
