Crunchbase Data: Nvidia’s Startup Funding Deals Hit A Record. What’s Next After Huang?

Before it faced a sudden crisis this week, Nvidia maintained its steady momentum as one of the most active startup investors in the industry, which included supporting numerous major venture deals throughout 2026.

Crunchbase records indicate that the chip manufacturer and its corporate venture capital division, NVentures, have taken part in more than 120 startup funding transactions so far this year. This already surpasses the previous year’s record-setting pace, establishing 2026 as its most active period yet for private-company investments.

Following the abrupt exit of co-founder Jensen Huang this week—prompted by reports regarding multiple extramarital affairs, including relationships with employees and a woman whom U.S. intelligence specialists suspect of spying for China—we examined the recent investment patterns of Nvidia and NVentures, as well as the uncertainties surrounding their future.

A widening investment footprint

Crunchbase data analysis identifies Nvidia as the most active corporate investor of 2026 thus far. Furthermore, when combined, Nvidia and NVentures rank among the top 20 most active overall investors in startups for the year.

Accounting for 121 startup investments in 2026, Nvidia’s portfolio spans artificial intelligence model developers, data center operations, robotics ventures, and healthcare firms. This extends the diversified strategy highlighted last year, during which the corporation and its venture arm engaged in 91 known startup funding rounds, rising from 54 the preceding year.

Notable Nvidia-backed transactions in 2026 include OpenAI’s Series G financing, which closed at $122 billion in March, along with Anthropic’s $30 billion Series G round in February. (Note that these figures reflect the total size of the funding rounds, inclusive of capital from other participants, rather than the specific amounts contributed by Nvidia.)

Additionally, the company participated in a $3.9 billion Series F round in September for AI infrastructure provider Crusoe, alongside a roughly $3.5 billion Series D round in September for model developer Mistral AI.

Despite the immense scale of these transactions, Nvidia’s startup investments comprise only a minor portion of its massive market capitalization. Although its stock price declined this week amid Huang’s departure and the associated headlines, Nvidia maintains a valuation approaching $4 trillion.

Beyond the biggest AI labs

The operational activity of NVentures demonstrates the broad scope of this investment footprint well beyond prominent foundational model developers.

Major investments by the venture arm this year feature a $1.4 billion January Series C for robot intelligence developer Skild AI, and a $750 million January Series C for autonomous driving startup Waabi. It also participated in two separate funding rounds for Bedrock Robotics—a creator of automation technology for construction machinery—comprising a $270 million Series B in February and a $600 million Series C in October. Healthcare deployments involved a $150 million April Series E for medical imaging AI enterprise Aidoc.

Consistent with prior years, Nvidia and NVentures typically invest alongside syndicates of other backers. Crunchbase metrics indicate that the enterprise or its venture branch acts as a lead or co-lead investor in approximately 20% of its total deals this year.

For early-stage companies, the value of having Nvidia as an investor reaches past its substantial financial resources. NVentures highlights that its value proposition provides startups with direct access to technical teams, technological integration support, and assistance with go-to-market customer acquisition strategies.

The question of what comes next

Fresh leadership at Nvidia may introduce an altered perspective toward risk management. Prior to this week’s developments, Chief Financial Officer and current interim CEO Collette Kress had expressed reservations regarding Huang’s escalating scale of AI investments, according to Reuters reports citing two sources familiar with the situation.

Nvidia’s board of directors has stated that it anticipates continuous operations, uninterrupted customer commitments, and an uncompromised product roadmap. This statement leaves the trajectory of future startup investments subject to change. With corporate earnings announcements slated for November 17, founders and financial stakeholders will be monitoring updates to see which elements of Huang’s investment philosophy endure under new management.

Related Crunchbase query:

• Nvidia’s Startup Investments In 2026

Related reading:

• Nvidia Sustains High Startup Investment Pace

Illustration: Dom Guzman

?Frequently Asked Questions

01How many startup funding deals has Nvidia participated in this year?

According to Crunchbase data, Nvidia and its NVentures arm have participated in more than 120 startup funding deals so far in 2026.

02What are some of the largest Nvidia-backed deals in 2026?

Major deals include OpenAI’s $122 billion Series G, Anthropic’s $30 billion Series G, Crusoe’s $3.9 billion Series F, and Mistral AI’s $3.5 billion Series D.

03Who is leading Nvidia following Jensen Huang’s departure?

CFO Collette Kress has stepped in as interim CEO.