European AI Startup Mistral AI Raises KRW 4.7 Trillion in Samsung-Led Funding Round

[Financial News] European artificial intelligence (AI) startup Mistral AI has raised approximately KRW 4.7 trillion (EUR 3 billion) in investment led by Samsung Electronics.
Mistral AI said on the 8th that its valuation was recognized at more than KRW 32.79612 trillion (EUR 21 billion) following a Series D funding round led by Samsung Electronics.
The investment is considered the largest equity investment ever raised by a European private technology company. In addition to Samsung Electronics, EQT’s Scaleup Europe Fund and existing investor PSG Equity participated as co-lead investors.
New investors included Advent, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, and Luxembourg, in addition to Samsung Electronics. Existing investors ASML, NVIDIA, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and General Catalyst also made additional investments.
Mistral AI plans to use the funds for AI model research and development (R&D), expanding its computing capabilities, and investing in infrastructure.
Headquartered in France, Mistral AI is developing “open-weight” models that allow companies to build AI in their own environments and modify and use it as needed.
Mistral AI has made “sovereign AI”—which allows customers to retain control over their data, models, and computing infrastructure—a key business strategy. The company currently operates in 20 countries worldwide.
Mistral AI is supporting the AI transformation of more than 125 global companies, including Airbus, ASML, and HSBC. Its previous Series C funding round was led by Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML.
With Samsung Electronics leading the latest funding round, Mistral AI has gone on to attract investments from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies.
Arthur Mensch, co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI, said, "We will use this funding round as an opportunity to expand our investments in research and development, products, and infrastructure. We will support companies and institutions so they can operate AI at scale in environments tailored to their individual needs."


[email protected] Kim Hak-jae Reporter