CoreWeave, a cloud services provider backed by Nvidia, is targeting a valuation of up to $32 billion in its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The company aims to capitalize on strong demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI), marking a crucial moment for the revival of the U.S. IPO market. This listing is also seen as a key gauge of investor appetite for new entrants in the AI sector, which has driven stock market gains in recent years.
CoreWeave plans to sell 49 million shares, priced between $47 and $55 each, aiming to raise as much as $2.7 billion. In addition to its IPO, the company has secured significant AI partnerships, including an $11.9 billion infrastructure deal with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. As part of the IPO, CoreWeave will issue $350 million worth of shares to OpenAI in a private placement.
The company, which provides data center access and high-powered chips primarily from Nvidia, is aiming for a valuation of $26 billion to $32 billion, based on the IPO’s share pricing range. Nvidia, which currently owns 5.96% of CoreWeave’s Class A shares, will see its stake reduce to 5.05% post-offering.
CoreWeave’s IPO is considered a litmus test for the broader AI sector and the future of specialized data centers versus traditional cloud giants. If the IPO performs well, it could signal renewed confidence in IPOs, while a weak showing may raise concerns about investor appetite despite improving market conditions.
