SambaNova builds complete AI computing systems — custom chips paired with software and pre-trained models — that let large organizations run AI privately within their own infrastructure. Their systems are used by government agencies, banks, and energy companies that need powerful AI but can't send sensitive data to outside cloud providers. SambaNova's Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit (RDU) architecture is purpose-built for how data flows through AI models, unlike general-purpose GPUs, providing superior inference efficiency and the ability to handle massive models on a single system. Their three-tier memory hierarchy allows rapid model switching and enables organizations to run multiple AI workloads without sending data to external clouds.

The explosion of enterprise demand for running large language models privately and efficiently has driven SambaNova to refocus on inference economics, positioning its platform as a cost-effective alternative for agentic AI workloads at scale.

SambaNova secured a $350M Series E led by Vista Equity Partners in early 2026, with Intel investing up to $150M as part of a multi-year partnership, after previously being in advanced acquisition talks with Intel at a $1.6B valuation.