Raised in 2026 · Worldwide

AI compute and inference startups that raised in 2026

113 AI compute and inference startups raised money in 2026 in rounds we track, $51B between them this year. Each sits in the segment that says what it does, ranked by what it raised this year.

113startups on the map
5segments
$51Braised between them in 2026
GPU cloudsmost funded segment

GPU clouds

37

+13 more

Data centres and power

33

+9 more

AI chips

27

+3 more

Inference platforms

12

Training and fine-tuning

4

Segment by segment

GPU clouds

37 startups · $19B raised

  1. LambdaTrain and scale AI on NVIDIA VR200 NVL 72, GB300 NVL 72, B300, B200, H200, H100, and more GPUs.United States$5.0B
  2. BasetenBaseten is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2019 that specializes in AI inference infrastructure.United States$3.8B
  3. FluidstackFluidStack is a GPU cloud for AI, ML and LLM companies.United States$3.0B
  4. Sharon AISharon AI offers infrastructure for traditional AI and GenAI inference and training workloads, alongside on-demand cloud storage solutions.Australia$2.5B
  5. PaleBlueDot AIPaleBlueDot AI is a Neocloud startup based in Palo Alto, California, founded in 2024.United States$605M
  6. General ComputeGeneral Compute provides an ASIC-based cloud inference platform with an OpenAI-compatible API for deploying and serving AI models.United States$500M
  7. SenseTimeSenseTime builds SenseNova native multimodal LLMs and SenseCore AI cloud infrastructure for enterprise AI digital transformation.Hong Kong SAR China$412M
  8. Modal LabsModal develops machine learning software to help run code in the cloud.United States$355M

Data centres and power

33 startups · $18B raised

  1. CrusoeCrusoe is an energy-first AI infrastructure company that develops and operates large-scale, AI-optimized data centers powered by cUnited States$7.2B
  2. Core ScientificCore Scientific operates blockchain data centers and manufactures digital currency mining servers.United States$5.4B
  3. NEXTDCNEXTDC is Australia’s most trusted provider of premium data centre outsourcing solutions and connectivity services.Australia$1.1B
  4. SambaNova SystemsSambaNova Systems builds AI hardware and integrated systems to run AI applications from the data center to the cloud.United States$1.0B
  5. DataBankDataBank is a prominent enterprise-class data center provider based in Dallas, Texas.United States$800M
  6. LumilensLumilens addresses the red hot market for AI data center infrastructure by designing, manufacturing and selling photonic interconnUnited States$700M
  7. Vantage Data CentersVantage Data Centers designs and develops data center campuses to large cloud providers, AI enterprises, and other tech-driven businesses.United States$341M
  8. Cowboy Space CorporationCowboy Space Corporation is a space infrastructure company dedicated to building orbital data centers for artificial intelligence.United States$275M

AI chips

27 startups · $12B raised

  1. Nebius GroupBuild and scale faster on the purpose-built AI cloud, engineered from silicon to API.Netherlands$3.5B
  2. TenstorrentTenstorrent is a computing company that develops processors designed to help in faster training and adaptability to future algorithms.United States$1.5B
  3. EtchedEtched is a technology company that has developed Sohu, the world’s first specialized chip (ASIC) designed specifically for transfUnited States$1.0B
  4. FractileFractile is a UK-based technology company and semiconductor startup founded in 2022 by Dr.United Kingdom$943M
  5. Positron AIPositron AI is a semiconductor and AI infrastructure company based in Reno, Nevada, founded in 2023.United States$875M
  6. Ayar LabsAyar Labs is a semiconductor company focused on transforming AI infrastructure through high-speed, light-based optical I/O solutions.United States$725M
  7. FuriosaAIFuriosaAI is a South Korean fabless semiconductor company founded in 2017, specializing in high-performance, power-efficient AI chSouth Korea$620M
  8. OLIXOLIX is an AI company focused on developing advanced hardware solutions for AI inference workloads.United Kingdom$532M

Inference platforms

12 startups · $2.3B raised

  1. Fireworks AIFireworks AI is a generative AI infrastructure platform that specializes in delivering fast inference and full-parameter training United States$1.5B
  2. Gimlet LabsGimlet Labs is an applied AI research and product company located in San Francisco.United States$380M
  3. Approaching.AIApproaching.AI was founded in 2023, with roots in the Institute of High Performance Computing at Tsinghua University.China$193M
  4. InferactInferact is an AI infrastructure startup founded by the creators of vLLM, a leading open-source LLM inference engine.United States$150M
  5. IRInference Research-$20M
  6. Featherless.aiFeatherless AI is a technology company based in San Francisco, founded in 2023 by Eugene Cheah, Harrison Vanderbyl, and Wesley George.United States$20M
  7. SimplismartSimplismart, officially known as Verute Technologies Pvt Ltd., is an AI infrastructure startup based in Bengaluru, India, founded India$14M
  8. Stanhope AIWe are a Deeptech startup leveraging neuroscience, AI and robotics expertise to bring true autonomy to the real world.United Kingdom$8.2M

Training and fine-tuning

4 startups · $112M raised

  1. RadixArkRadixArk is an AI infrastructure company based in Palo Alto/Redwood City, California.United States$100M
  2. RapidataRapidata is a Zurich-based AI infrastructure company that offers a scalable, on-demand data labeling platform.Switzerland$8.5M
  3. PipeshiftPipeshift is a San Francisco-based AI infrastructure startup that provides a modular orchestration platform for training, deployinUnited States$2.5M
  4. Cumulus LabsCumulus Labs develops software for creating, running, and managing virtual labs and hands-on training environments.United States$500K

How this map is made. Every startup here has raised money in rounds we track, and raised in 2026. It joins the map when its sectors, read from its rounds, or the opening of its own description say it works in AI compute and inference, and goes to the first segment whose words it carries. Each segment shows its biggest raisers this year first. Rebuilt nightly; updated 15 November 2026.

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