AI data centre software startup Emerald AI raises $150 million at $1.05 billion valuation

Emerald AI, a US-based AI data centre software startup, has raised $150 million in a Series A funding round that values the startup at $1.05 billion. The oversubscribed round was co-led by Energize Capital and deep-tech investor DCVC. Other participants included Nvidia, Samsung Ventures, Siemens, Aramco Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, GE Vernova, RWE and JERA Ventures. Emerald AI said it will use the funding to expand commercial deployments with AI companies, data-centre operators and electricity utilities worldwide. The startup's Emerald Conductor software allows data centres to adjust their electricity consumption according to grid conditions by coordinating computing workloads and on-site energy resources. It is designed to reduce or shift suitable workloads when electricity networks are under pressure while protecting critical computing tasks. Emerald AI founder and CEO Varun Sivaram said “We founded Emerald AI on the conviction that the intelligence driving the AI revolution could solve its own greatest bottleneck: power.” Its technology is now operating commercially at multi-megawatt, full-data-centre scale after demonstrations at facilities in Arizona, Illinois, Virginia, Oregon and London. Those trials involved partners including Nvidia, Oracle, Nebius, National Grid and the Electric Power Research Institute, as well as regional utilities and grid operators. The expansion comes as the growth of AI infrastructure places increasing pressure on electricity systems. The International Energy Agency expects data centres to account for about half of the growth in US electricity demand through 2030. Research from Duke University's Nicholas Institute has estimated that the existing US grid could accommodate nearly 100GW of additional large electricity loads if those users were able to temporarily reduce consumption during periods of stress. The research examined flexible large loads generally rather than Emerald AI's technology specifically. Emerald AI has also partnered with Silicon Valley Power on a Flexible Load Interconnection Program aimed at giving data centres greater grid access in return for verified, dispatchable flexibility. In Manassas, Virginia, the startup is working with Digital Realty and Nvidia on a nearly 100MW project known as the Vera Rubin AI Research Factory. Emerald AI said the facility had been tested in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute, Dominion and PJM Interconnection and is expected to come online later in 2026. US regulators are also examining rules governing large electricity users. In June, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered all six regional grid operators under its jurisdiction to justify or reform their rules for connecting data centres and other large loads. Emerald AI said 12 Fortune Global 500 companies are now among its investors. The company was also included in Time magazine's 2026 list of the 100 most influential companies and selected for the World Economic Forum's 2026 Technology Pioneers programme.