Samsung Eyes Up to $1.14 Billion Investment in AI Startup Mistral

Samsung Electronics is reportedly in discussions to invest as much as 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in French artificial intelligence startup Mistral, a move that could strengthen the South Korean tech giant’s position in the rapidly expanding AI sector.

According to a Financial Times report published Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, Samsung is considering a commitment worth several hundred million euros, with the investment potentially reaching 1 billion euros. The funding would form part of a broader fundraising round that could value Mistral at approximately 20 billion euros.

Samsung has already established ties with Mistral through its venture capital arm, and the latest discussions signal a deeper strategic commitment as demand for advanced AI technologies and computing infrastructure continues to grow worldwide.

The report said Mistral is seeking to raise several billion euros to accelerate the expansion of its artificial intelligence infrastructure. The startup is also working to strengthen relationships with semiconductor suppliers as AI developers compete for access to high-performance chips amid a global shortage of computing capacity.

In addition to Samsung, Swedish private equity firm EQT’s Scaleup Europe Fund is reportedly in talks to participate in the funding round. However, the negotiations remain ongoing, and the final investment size and valuation could still change before an agreement is reached.

Founded as a European challenger to major U.S. AI companies, Mistral has gained attention for its open AI models and its efforts to build a competitive AI ecosystem in Europe. The company continues to expand its infrastructure and product offerings as enterprises increasingly adopt artificial intelligence solutions across industries.

If completed, Samsung’s investment would underscore growing confidence in Europe’s AI sector while highlighting the increasing importance of strategic partnerships between AI developers and semiconductor companies as the race to develop next-generation artificial intelligence technologies intensifies.