A potential deal would put the Saudi-backed startup at the center of Nvidia’s push into specialized AI infrastructure, as Rebellions prepares for an IPO.

Why You Should Care

Nvidia is in talks to potentially acquire South Korean AI chipmaker Rebellions, according to Bloomberg. This is a move that could bring one of the regionally backed AI hardware startups deeper into the global AI infrastructure race.

Rebellions develops chips designed for data centers, with a focus on AI inference and reasoning workloads. The company is backed by Aramco’s Waed Ventures, which invested USD 15 million in July 2024 as part of Rebellions’ expansion into Saudi Arabia.

For Saudi Arabia, the potential deal highlights the growing role of local and regional capital in backing companies operating in strategic areas of the global technology ecosystem.

The Details

Rebellions has attracted significant interest from major technology companies as it has scaled its AI chip business. In 2025, the company raised USD 250 million in a Series C round at a USD 1.4 billion valuation. Samsung, SK Hynix and ARM participated in the round.

Its total funding has since exceeded USD 850 million, while its valuation rose to USD 2.3 billion following a USD 400 million funding round in March.

The company is now preparing for an initial public offering, adding another potential path for investors and stakeholders as it continues to expand its business.

Rebellions currently serves customers across Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan and the United States, giving it exposure to several of the most important markets for AI and data center infrastructure.

The Ripple

A potential Nvidia acquisition would underscore the strategic value of specialized AI chip companies as demand for computing infrastructure continues to grow.

It would also put greater attention on Rebellions’ Saudi connection. Waed Ventures’ investment gives Aramco exposure to a company operating in a critical layer of the AI technology stack, while Rebellions’ presence in Saudi Arabia provides a commercial link between its Korean technology base and the Kingdom’s expanding AI ambitions.

For Nvidia, acquiring specialized chip capabilities could strengthen its position across different stages of AI computing, particularly as demand expands beyond training into inference and reasoning.

What to Watch

The key question now is whether the talks result in a completed acquisition and what that could mean for Rebellions’ planned IPO.

Beyond the potential transaction, Rebellions’ growth offers a broader signal for Saudi Arabia’s technology ecosystem: strategic capital is increasingly connecting the Kingdom to companies building the infrastructure that will power the next phase of AI.