Nvidia has established itself as a major venture capital player in the artificial intelligence sector. By mid-August 2026, the company participated in funding deals totaling $266 billion. The firm currently invests in a new startup approximately every five days, with nearly $50 billion directed specifically toward frontier AI laboratories.
In August 2026, Nvidia announced strategic partnerships with Apollo, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs. Through this collaboration, the company plans to mobilize over $500 billion in third-party capital to support AI infrastructure development. CEO Jensen Huang stated that the company aims for a return profile of 100 units for every one unit invested.
Huang characterizes GPUs as a distinct asset class, comparing them to commercial real estate due to their long-term revenue-generating potential. By financing startups and infrastructure, Nvidia secures demand for its hardware, as funded companies typically prioritize Nvidia products over those from competitors like AMD or Intel.
The company's investment strategy faces scrutiny regarding potential circular financing, where capital provided to startups is primarily used to purchase Nvidia hardware. Critics argue this could inflate revenue growth figures. Despite these concerns, Huang maintains that the risks are low and the demand for AI compute capacity continues to accelerate.
