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Nvidia Completes Acquisition of Toronto AI Startup CentML

The agreement integrates CentML’s leadership team into Nvidia’s AI software division ahead of the startup’s July 17 service shutdown.

COO Akbar Nurlybayev speaking at the Collision tech conference in Toronto in June 2024. Christopher Katsarov Luna for The Logic
Nvidia was among CentAI’s early investors, joining Gradient Ventures, Google’s AI-focused venture fund, and others in the $37-million seed-funding round.
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Overview

  • Nvidia completed the acquisition of Toronto-based CentML on June 27, hiring CEO Gennady Pekhimenko as a senior director of AI software and integrating CTO Sam Wang, COO Akbar Nurlybayev, 15 engineers, and two interns into its ranks.
  • CentML will formally cease operations and discontinue its AI-optimization platform on July 17, ending customer access to its compiler-based services.
  • Financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed after Nvidia declined to comment, though CentML had raised US$30.9 million in venture funding including Nvidia’s US$27 million seed round in October 2023.
  • An organizational restructuring led to the elimination of some CentML roles, with sales and other positions cut prior to the talent integration.
  • The acquisition underscores Nvidia’s strategy of bolstering its AI hardware and software ecosystem through targeted startup buyouts and earlier accelerator partnerships.