Nscale Secures Historic $2 Billion Series C Funding to Accelerate AI Infrastructure Development
Nscale Secures $2 Billion in Series C Funding
Nscale, a prominent hyperscaler specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, has made headlines by raising an unprecedented $2 billion in its Series C funding round. This monumental event marks the largest fundraising effort in European history for a tech company, positioning Nscale at a staggering valuation of $14.6 billion. The funding round was spearheaded by Aker ASA and 8090 Industries and received backing from several key investors including Astra Capital Management, Citadel, Dell, Jane Street, Lenovo, Linden Advisors, Nokia, NVIDIA, and Point72.
The primary goal of this significant investment is to accelerate Nscale’s global AI infrastructure deployments, ranging from GPU computing and networking to data services and orchestration software. With this funding, Nscale is set to expand its reach in Europe, North America, and Asia, ensuring its leadership in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
AI is transforming industries worldwide, not just in technology but across various sectors including healthcare, finance, and logistics. As demand surges, the need for effective and reliable infrastructure to support AI operations has never been more critical. Nscale is designed specifically to address this need, providing the necessary backbone for real-world, large-scale AI deployments.
Josh Payne, CEO and founder of Nscale, emphasized the importance of AI in today’s economy, stating, “We are witnessing the fourth industrial revolution, where AI will be integrated into every business sector, every product, and every job. Nscale is at the forefront of this technological shift, constructing the foundational infrastructure that will underlie the future of superintelligence.”
Strengthening the Board
In addition to the funding, Nscale welcomed three new members to its board of directors: Sheryl Sandberg, Susan Decker, and Nick Clegg. Each of these leaders brings a wealth of experience and global insight in technology, policy, operations, and governance. Sheryl Sandberg, co-founder of Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners and former COO of Meta, brings unparalleled expertise in growing some of the world’s most influential tech companies. Susan Decker, CEO of Raftr and former president of Yahoo, offers sharp financial acumen and strategic leadership, while Nick Clegg, a former UK Deputy Prime Minister and current partner at Hiro Capital, adds deep insights at the intersection of technology and global affairs.
These additions are expected to significantly enhance Nscale’s governance and operational effectiveness, aligning the company’s leadership with its ambitious growth objectives.
Integration with Aker
As part of its strategic moves alongside the funding announcement, Nscale confirmed a full integration with Aker Nscale, a joint venture established in July 2025. This integration consolidates project delivery and governance under one umbrella, ensuring that ongoing initiatives within the joint venture continue seamlessly as part of Nscale’s broader operations. Aker remains a key shareholder, and its CEO, Øyvind Eriksen, will continue to play a vital role on the board.
Eriksen commented on the integration, highlighting its potential to streamline execution and governance, thereby facilitating Nscale's long-term commitment to responsibly advancing shared goals in the local communities it serves. This partnership underscores Nscale's dedication to sustainable practices such as waste heat reuse and local skills development.
Rayyan Islam, co-founder of 8090 Industries, expressed confidence in Nscale's approach: “We are entering an era defined by AI, and the limiting factor is infrastructure. The companies that effectively harness computational and energy capabilities will lead the next wave of technological and economic progress.”
A Bright Future for Nscale
This unprecedented funding is set to amplify Nscale’s ability to build a unique platform capable of addressing the pressing requirements for AI infrastructure. With its vertically integrated approach to critical infrastructure layers, from data centers to orchestration, Nscale is positioned to create the backbone of the AI economy. The company looks forward to embarking on this exciting chapter aimed at revolutionizing how AI is deployed worldwide.
In conclusion, Nscale's historic funding marks a pivotal moment not just for the company, but for the broader European technology landscape, showcasing the immense potential and investment in AI infrastructure as we progress into an AI-driven future. With strong leadership in place and the resources to scale, Nscale appears set to lead this transformative charge.