THE Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) participated in a $230 million funding round for US semiconductor startup AI Positron, which is developing cheaper, energy-efficient memory chips.
The sovereign fund has made a “strategic” investment, the startup said in a press release, without revealing the extent of the commitment.
The funding round, led by Arena Private Wealth, Jump Trading and Unless, values Positron at $1 billion.
Positron aims to challenge Nvidia by offering energy-efficient chips designed to run AI models. The startup plans to launch its first-generation chip, Asimov, by the end of 2026, with production expected to begin early next year.
In December, QIA launched its subsidiary Qaiwhich will develop, manage and invest in advanced AI infrastructure in Qatar and internationally.
The same month, Qai and Canada-based Brookfield announced a $20 billion joint venture focused on AI infrastructure in the Gulf States and in international markets.
In September, the sovereign wealth fund participated in the billion-dollar financing round of the American quantum computing start-up PsiQuantum.
The $580 billion fund is already a major investor in the global technology sector, including Elon Musk’s xAI.
In May 2025, QIA announced plans to invest $500 billion over the next 10 years in the United States during the presidency. Donald Trumpvisit to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.