Firmus, Nvidia-backed AI data center builder, reaches $5.5 billion valuation

Asian data center provider for artificial intelligence Firmus raised $1.35 billion in just six months and achieved a $5.5 billion valuation.

The company is backed by Nvidia — one of the main beneficiaries of the AI infrastructure boom. In the industry, Firmus has already been nicknamed "Southgate" — for its systematic approach to data center construction and reliable execution at all levels. Firmus operates in Asia, where demand for AI computing power is growing at an accelerating pace.

The region is becoming the key battleground for AI infrastructure: governments from Singapore to Japan are investing billions in sovereign computing power, and technology companies are actively seeking reliable partners for GPU cluster deployment. Firmus has captured exactly this niche — a specialized data center builder optimized for high-density AI workloads. Nvidia's participation in the investment round is more than just financial investment.

The GPU manufacturer actively invests in infrastructure companies that accelerate the deployment of its equipment. The partnership with Firmus opens a direct channel for Nvidia to Asian markets, where demand for H100 and Blackwell accelerators significantly exceeds available supply. In fact, Nvidia is financing the construction of infrastructure that will itself consume its products — a classic vertical integration strategy.

The pace of capital attraction is impressive even against the backdrop of a heated AI infrastructure market. $1.35 billion in six months — a metric that was previously characteristic only of the largest American cloud providers.

A $5.5 billion valuation puts Firmus in the same league as CoreWeave in its early stages of development. For comparison: CoreWeave was valued at approximately $7 billion in 2023, before growing to $23 billion at the time of its IPO.

The nickname "Southgate" — a reference to Gareth Southgate, the former England national team football coach, who was valued precisely for result stability and methodicality, rather than bright tactical breakthroughs. Applied to the data center business, this is the highest compliment: major customers prefer partners who build predictably, do not miss deadlines, and keep their word on operational metrics. In a world where data center construction has become a bottleneck for the entire AI industry, the reputation of a reliable contractor is literally converted into billion-dollar valuations.

The Asian AI data center market is undergoing a structural shift. Historically, American hyperscalers dominated — Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud. But sovereign data requirements, energy constraints in Western countries, and the political desire of local governments to keep AI infrastructure under national control create sustained demand for regional players.

Firmus has perfectly hit this long-term trend. Investments in AI infrastructure in 2025–2026 are reaching historical maximums. According to analysts' estimates, in 2025 alone more than $300 billion was invested globally in data center construction and modernization.

Asia is receiving a growing share of these investments — from 25 to 30% by various estimates — and competition for the role of regional leader in data center construction is only intensifying. Firmus's rapid valuation growth and Nvidia's strategic support — another market signal: the infrastructure layer of AI remains one of the most attractive sectors for capital. While the general audience discusses language models and applications, smart money is building data centers.

And companies like Firmus will earn regardless of whose model ultimately wins the race for dominance.