Nvidia backs indian AI startup with $14m to optimize GPU usage

Nvidia has invested $14 million in Simplismart, an Indian startup, through a Series B funding round, valuing the four-year-old company at $100 million. The round was led by Dallas Venture Capital and included participation from Accel, Shastra VC, and Micromax. Simplismart’s software helps companies run AI models more efficiently, often with fewer GPUs, by automating deployment and management of models on existing infrastructure. Amritanshu Jain, co-founder and CEO of Simplismart, emphasized that companies need AI models that balance speed, cost, and performance for their specific applications. The startup’s platform allows deployment on cloud and on-premises infrastructure and offers tools for scaling and monitoring AI models. Simplismart claims to have helped reduce GPU costs for InVideo by 56% and works with other AI companies like HeyGen and Higgsfield. The startup’s annualized revenue has grown 14-fold in six months, with over half of its revenue coming from the U.S. Despite being based in India, Simplismart is expanding its U.S. presence. Nvidia is collaborating with Simplismart on technical integrations, including its Dynamo inference software, and helping introduce the startup to customers. Jain argued that improving AI inference efficiency could ultimately benefit Nvidia by increasing demand for its hardware. Founded in 2022 by former Oracle and Google engineers, Simplismart is competing in a crowded market with major cloud providers and startups. The company plans to use the funding to expand in the U.S., grow its team, and develop its inference software further. Jain noted that the startup is not actively fundraising and that the Series B round is closed.