SambaNova hits $11 billion valuation in $1 billion funding haul

The Palo Alto-based company focuses on custom chips and cloud services designed specifically for inference—the stage where AI models process data to answer user queries. With the fresh capital, SambaNova plans to scale its global deployments and expand its full-stack infrastructure, which includes both hardware and software layers. JPMorgan Chase has already signed on as a key partner, currently integrating SambaNova’s SN40 and SN50 systems into its operations.

This latest round drew participation from major institutional backers including T. Rowe Price Associates, Capital Group, and Seligman Ventures. Existing stakeholders, such as BlackRock, Intel Capital, and the Qatar Investment Authority, also contributed. The deal follows a turbulent period for the company’s relationship with Intel; after acquisition talks stalled earlier this year, the two companies pivoted to a partnership focused on delivering low-cost inference solutions. While Intel previously held a stake estimated at roughly 9% following a series of investments, representatives for SambaNova declined to clarify the chipmaker's current ownership percentage following this week's financing.