In other news, AI computing firm Blaize raised $106 million in a funding round and AI coding startups Augment and Cognition raised $227 million and $175 million respectively. Despite the challenges, the upward trend in deals is expected to continue, with companies like Microsoft and Nvidia having significant cash reserves.
Key takeaways:
- Nvidia acquired two AI startups, Run:ai for a reported $700 million and Deci AI, contributing to the trend of M&A in the AI industry.
- In Q1 2024, 55 VC-backed AI-related startups saw M&A exits, a rise from 38 deals in Q4 2023, according to Crunchbase data.
- AI computing firm Blaize raised a $106 million round from investors including Franklin Templeton, Mercedes Benz, and Temasek, and is planning to go public in a SPAC deal with BurTech Acquisition.
- AI coding startups are attracting investor interest, with Augment and Cognition raising $227 million and $175 million respectively.