AI hardware firm SambaNova Systems has secured $1 billion in Series F funding, bringing its valuation to $11 billion. The company also confirmed a partnership with JPMorgan Chase to provide on-premises AI infrastructure, marking a strategic shift for large financial institutions toward private AI deployments.
SambaNova Systems, an artificial intelligence hardware startup, has raised $1 billion in a Series F funding round. The investment values the company at $11 billion, underscoring significant investor interest in specialized AI infrastructure. This capital injection follows a $350 million Series E round completed just five months earlier, highlighting the company’s rapid pace of fundraising to support its expanding hardware operations.
Partnership with JPMorgan Chase
A central component of this announcement is the new partnership with JPMorgan Chase. The bank has chosen SambaNova as its inference-infrastructure provider, utilizing the company’s SN40L and SN50 systems. This agreement is significant as it involves deploying on-premises hardware, allowing the bank to maintain its AI models within a private environment rather than relying entirely on third-party cloud providers. SambaNova aims to leverage this deal as a model for other large enterprises and government entities seeking to secure sensitive data while running advanced AI applications.
Scaling and Future Hardware Deployment
The company plans to use the $1 billion in fresh capital to scale its business operations and strengthen its supply chain. A key focus is the upcoming delivery of its SN50 chip, which was unveiled earlier this year and is scheduled to begin shipping in the second half of 2026. SoftBank has been identified as an initial deployment partner for this hardware. The company is positioning its technology to handle multi-trillion-parameter models efficiently, targeting customers in sectors such as sovereign clouds, finance, and private enterprise.
Market Position and Competitive Landscape
SambaNova faces a competitive environment dominated by large semiconductor incumbents and other well-funded AI chip startups. While the company has received past acquisition interest, management indicated a preference for continuing as an independent entity, eyeing a future public listing as its growth trajectory matures. Notably, Intel, which has been an investor since the company’s Series C round, participated in this latest funding, maintaining its role as a strategic partner in the development and marketing of AI inference solutions. The company’s success in this funding round, supported by investors including General Atlantic, T. Rowe Price Associates, and Capital Group, reflects investor confidence in the specific niche of private, secure AI hardware infrastructure.