AI Data Center Provider Lambda Secures $1.5 Billion Funding Led by TWG Global

Key Points

  • Lambda raises $1.5 billion in a financing round led by TW Global.
  • TW Global, a $40 billion investment firm, is founded by Thomas Tull and Mark Walter.
  • The firm holds stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers, a Cadillac F1 racing team, and runs a $15 billion AI‑focused fund backed by Mubadala Capital.
  • Lambda recently secured a multibillion‑dollar AI‑infrastructure contract with Microsoft, deploying tens of thousands of Nvidia GPUs.
  • Nvidia is also an investor in Lambda.
  • Lambda competes with CoreWeave and offers AI factories to hyperscaler clouds.
  • Previous funding includes a $480 million Series D round valued at $2.5 billion.
  • Lambda declined to comment on its current valuation after the new raise.

AI data center provider Lambda raises whopping $1.5B after multibillion-dollar Microsoft deal

Major Funding Announcement

Lambda, an AI data‑center provider operating multiple facilities across the United States, disclosed a $1.5 billion financing round. The round was led by TW Global, a newly formed investment firm with a reported $40 billion of assets under management. The lead investors behind TW Global are Thomas Tull, former owner of Legendary Entertainment, and Mark Walter, founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners.

Investor Profile and Strategic Assets

Beyond its capital size, TW Global holds a diverse portfolio that includes ownership stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and the new Cadillac F1 racing team. The firm also manages a $15 billion fund dedicated to AI investments, anchored by Mubadala Capital of Abu Dhabi. TW Global’s recent activity includes backing a partnership between Elon Musk’s xAI and Palantir to market AI agents to enterprise customers.

Lambda’s Market Position and Recent Deals

Lambda competes directly with CoreWeave in the AI‑infrastructure space and differentiates itself by offering “AI factories” to hyperscaler cloud providers. Earlier this month, Lambda announced a multibillion‑dollar agreement to supply Microsoft with AI infrastructure, a deal that will involve tens of thousands of Nvidia GPUs. Notably, Nvidia is also listed as an investor in Lambda.

Microsoft’s engagement mirrors a prior arrangement with CoreWeave, in which Microsoft purchased roughly $1 billion of services from the competitor in 2024, marking it as Microsoft’s largest customer at the time. In a separate development, OpenAI signed a $12 billion contract with CoreWeave in March.

Previous Funding and Valuation Context

Prior to the latest round, Lambda raised a $480 million Series D round in February, which PitchBook estimated valued the company at $2.5 billion. Industry observers had previously speculated that Lambda might seek to raise “hundreds of millions” at a valuation north of $4 billion and even hinted at a potential initial public offering.

The $1.5 billion infusion significantly exceeds those earlier expectations. Lambda declined to comment on whether the new capital altered its valuation.

Implications and Outlook

The substantial funding bolsters Lambda’s capacity to expand its data‑center footprint and deepen its partnership ecosystem, especially as demand for AI‑compute resources accelerates across cloud providers and enterprise customers. With backing from a high‑profile investor group that brings both financial muscle and strategic assets, Lambda is positioned to challenge established players and capture a larger share of the burgeoning AI‑infrastructure market.

Source: techcrunch.com