Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Intel Corp. CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s influence in the artificial intelligence chip race extends beyond the company he leads.

According to The Information, AI chip startup SambaNova Systems is in talks to raise between $800 million and $1 billion at an implied valuation of around $10 billion, excluding the new capital. The valuation would represent a roughly fivefold jump from the company’s previous funding round just four months ago, underscoring investors’ growing appetite for AI chipmakers looking to challenge Nvidia Corp.’s dominance.

Tan, who became Intel’s CEO earlier this year, also serves as executive chairman of SambaNova. He disclosed the fundraising plans during an event on Tuesday, though people familiar with the matter said the company is targeting a valuation of roughly $10 billion.

Don’t Miss:

Intel CEO’s AI Ties Extend Beyond Intel

While Intel has been working to regain relevance in the AI accelerator market, Tan’s continued role at SambaNova highlights his long-standing ties to the broader semiconductor ecosystem.

Founded in 2017, SambaNova develops AI server chips designed to compete with Nvidia’s accelerators. Demand for alternative AI chips has accelerated as cloud providers and AI developers increasingly look for lower-cost options beyond Nvidia.

The fundraising suggests investors remain willing to assign premium valuations to companies that can carve out a niche in the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure market, even as competition intensifies.

Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

What SambaNova’s Funding Could Mean For Intel Investors

The fundraising does not directly benefit Intel, nor does it imply any ownership interest by the chipmaker. However, it offers another signal that investors continue to see significant opportunities beyond the current AI market leader.

For Intel investors, Tan’s dual role provides a unique window into the evolving AI chip landscape. Before taking the helm at Intel, Tan built a reputation as one of Silicon Valley’s most influential semiconductor investors, backing dozens of chip startups during his tenure at venture capital firm Walden International.

As Intel pushes to expand its AI offerings and compete more aggressively in data center accelerators, SambaNova’s soaring valuation could be viewed as another indication that capital continues to flow toward companies developing alternatives to Nvidia’s hardware.

Story Continues

Whether Intel can translate that broader industry momentum into gains for its own AI business remains one of the key questions investors will be watching.

Image: Shutterstock

Read Next: 

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

BluSky AI

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible.

ARK7

Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities. By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Immersed

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

Miso Robotics

Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations. As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service.

Vinovest 

Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

EquityMultiple 

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process. 

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

American Hartford Gold

American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs. The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.