Over the last couple of years, Nvidia has been making big moves in the AI industry, investing heavily in startups to expand its presence. According to data from S&P Global and Crunchbase, Nvidia's investment in startups shot up by a whopping 280% from 2022 to 2023, participating in nearly 46 deals last year through its venture capital arm, Nvidia Ventures.

But it's not just Nvidia in the game. Competitors like AMD, Arm, and Intel are also getting into the action, putting their money into startups, especially in hot sectors like generative AI.

Take a closer look at how these big players stack up against each other when it comes to investing in startups.

Intel, for instance, has a robust investment operation with Intel Capital, its venture capital arm. In 2023, Intel Capital invested over $350 million across various startups, ranging from AI21 Labs to Grip Security. While Intel's total number of startup deals slightly decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year, they are still a major player in the game.

Arm, known for licensing chipsets it designs, may not invest as actively as Intel, but it has its own investments and partnerships. In 2023, Arm significantly increased its investments in startups, reflecting its focus on expanding its presence in data centers and consumer AI chips.

AMD, meanwhile, operates its own venture capital arm, AMD Ventures, though its investment activity has been more conservative compared to its competitors. However, AMD plans to step up its game in 2024, particularly targeting the AI ecosystem.

When it comes to Nvidia, it's clear they're leading the charge in startup investments. In just the first three quarters of 2023, Nvidia poured nearly a billion dollars into various startups, according to S&P Global. This level of investment underscores Nvidia's determination to maintain its dominance in the AI chip market.