Nvidia discusses funding with Perplexity AI at $30B valuation

Nvidia is in discussions with Perplexity AI about a licensing agreement that could value the AI-powered search startup at over $30 billion. If the deal closes at that figure, it would represent a roughly 57x jump from Perplexity’s approximately $520 million valuation during its Series B round in January 2024. From early bet to heavyweight partnership Nvidia’s connection to Perplexity isn’t new. The chipmaker participated in Perplexity’s Series B round, which raised $73.6 million at a valuation of roughly $520 million. Beyond capital, Nvidia has provided technical resources to Perplexity through its NVIDIA Inception program, which gives AI startups access to hardware, software tools, and go-to-market support. Perplexity’s valuation climbed to around $9 billion by late 2024, then pushed into the $14 billion to $18 billion range by mid-2025. By early 2026, estimates placed the company’s value between $20 billion and $23 billion. Perplexity has raised over $1.5 billion from a roster of high-profile backers that includes Jeff Bezos and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Why a licensing agreement, not just another check The structure being discussed is notable. Rather than a straightforward equity ...