Nscale Raises $2B Series C for AI Infrastructure Expansion

Nscale, the UK-based hyperscaler specializing in artificial intelligence infrastructure, has announced a monumental $2 billion Series C funding round, propelling its valuation to an impressive $14.6 billion. This landmark capital injection, reportedly the largest Series C in European history, is set to dramatically accelerate the company's global deployment of vertically integrated AI infrastructure, spanning GPU compute, networking, data services, and orchestration software across key markets in Europe, North America, and Asia.

The funding round saw significant participation from a consortium of leading investors, with Aker ASA and 8090 Industries co-leading the raise. Additional strategic backing came from a diverse group including Astra Capital Management, Citadel, Dell, Jane Street, Lenovo, Linden Advisors, Nokia, NVIDIA, and Point72. This robust investor lineup underscores the market's confidence in Nscale's vision and its critical role in enabling the burgeoning AI economy, which is projected to reach a market size exceeding $1.8 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of over 38%.

Further solidifying its strategic leadership, Nscale has welcomed three prominent figures to its Board of Directors: Sheryl Sandberg, co-founder of Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners and former COO of Meta; Susan Decker, CEO of Raftr and former President of Yahoo, Inc.; and Nick Clegg, General Partner at Hiro Capital and former UK Deputy Prime Minister. Their collective expertise in scaling global technology enterprises, financial acumen, and navigating complex policy landscapes will be invaluable as Nscale expands its footprint and addresses the intricate challenges of AI governance and deployment.

Josh Payne, CEO and Founder of Nscale, emphasized the transformative impact of AI, stating, "This is the fourth industrial revolution; the world is changing at a rapid pace. Over the next 5 years, Artificial Intelligence will be integrated into every industry, every product, and every job." He highlighted Nscale's pivotal role in building the foundational infrastructure for this shift, which he described as "the largest infrastructure buildout in human history." The company's focus on delivering production-grade AI deployments at massive scale directly addresses the industry's primary constraint: the ability to reliably deploy and operate AI capacity.

In a strategic move to streamline operations, Nscale has also integrated its joint venture with Aker ASA, initially announced in July 2025, fully into the core company. This consolidation ensures unified delivery and governance, while Aker remains a significant shareholder, with its President and CEO, Øyvind Eriksen, retaining his seat on the Nscale Board. This integration is expected to accelerate progress and enhance value creation, particularly for projects in Norway, where Nscale maintains a strong commitment to waste heat reuse and local skills development.

Rayyan Islam, Co-founder and General Partner of 8090 Industries, articulated the critical market need Nscale addresses: "We are living through a new era defined by AI, and the limiting factor is infrastructure. Compute, energy, and industrial-scale deployment capacity will determine which nations and companies lead the next generation of technological and economic progress." He praised Nscale's unique vertically integrated platform, which spans energy, data centers, compute, and orchestration, positioning it as a foundational backbone for the global AI economy. This significant funding round not only validates Nscale's technological prowess but also signals a robust investment climate for companies at the forefront of AI infrastructure development.