Nvidia's European Startup Funding Returns as Chip Sales, Sifted Reports
Nvidia's European startup checks return as chip sales, Sifted says; Italian VC funding is concentrating in fewer firms.
The report, published on Oct. 23, described a circular pattern in Nvidia's European startup activity: the company puts capital into young businesses, and those businesses use part of the funding to buy Nvidia hardware. Sifted framed the trend around Huang's recent trip, which it said was accompanied by much fanfare. The result is that Nvidia can act as both investor and supplier to the same companies.
Sifted also published a separate report on Oct. 23 naming 14 Italian early-stage startups to watch, based on picks from investors at 20100, Vento, United Ventures and Italian Founders. That report said Italian startups are raising more money than they did last year, but the capital is going to fewer companies. Sifted asked the investors to identify the early-stage companies it featured.
Both reports were published on Oct. 23. The Nvidia report focused on the company's recent European investment activity, while the Italian report focused on the country's early-stage startup scene and the concentration of funding among a smaller group of companies.
Editor's Summary Nvidia's European startup investments are flowing back to the company as recipients spend on its chips, according to Sifted, making Nvidia both investor and supplier. Sifted also reported that Italian startup funding is rising but concentrating in fewer companies, with VCs naming 14 early-stage firms to watch.