AI chip maker SambaNova has secured a $1 billion Series F round at an $11 billion valuation, according to TechCrunch. The deal arrives just five months after rumors surfaced that Intel had attempted to acquire the company for roughly $1.6 billion.
That rumored acquisition price would have represented a steep discount compared to SambaNova's current valuation, suggesting the startup's growth trajectory has accelerated sharply. The new capital signals strong investor confidence in its custom AI silicon, even as the broader semiconductor market faces headwinds.
SambaNova has now raised over $1.7 billion in total funding, though the exact structure of the Series F — including which investors participated — remains undisclosed. The company's valuation has more than doubled since its last round, reflecting the surging demand for specialized AI hardware.
The fresh capital will likely fuel continued expansion of its chip design efforts and go-to-market operations. Competitors like Cerebras and Graphcore also raise large rounds, making the AI chip space increasingly crowded and capital-intensive.
However, the rumored Intel offer — if accurate — suggests that not all acquirers saw the same upside. A $1.6 billion bid would have been far below the new valuation, raising questions about internal growth metrics.