Bold Vision : How Three Engineers Cooked Up a Tech Revolution at Denny’s

Nvidia Corporation was founded on April 5, 1993, by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem. These three co-founders brought together diverse expertise in engineering, graphics design, and computing, all united by a shared vision of redefining visual computing.

Jensen Huang: The Visionary Engineer

Jen-Hsun “Jensen” Huang, the most well-known of the trio, is the current CEO and President of Nvidia. Born in Taiwan and raised in the U.S., Huang earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Oregon State University in 1984 and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) from Stanford University in 1992​.

Before Nvidia, Huang was the Director of CoreWare at LSI Logic, where he led development teams in microprocessor design and system integration. Earlier in his career, he was a microprocessor designer at AMD. Huang’s early work experiences shaped Nvidia’s understanding of the challenges and future potential of high-performance computing. (Jensen Huang)

Curtis Priem: The Graphics Innovator

Curtis Priem, the third co-founder, was a senior staff engineer at IBM and graphics chip designer at Sun Microsystems before joining the startup journey. At IBM he designed the first graphics processor for the PC, the IBM Professional Graphics Adapter. He was well-known in the industry for his pioneering work in designing high-performance graphics systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. (Curtis Priem)

Chris Malachowsky: The Hardware Engineer

Chris Malachowsky, another co-founder, also came from a background rich in hardware and systems design. He was an engineer at Sun Microsystems, where he worked extensively on graphics systems. He holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and an M.S. degree from Santa Clara University. Before Nvidia, Malachowsky worked at Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems where he was colleagues with Jensen Huang and Curtis Priem. (Chris Malachowsky)

The Founding Story: From Denny’s to Disruption

Nvidia’s origin story begins in late 1992 at a Denny’s roadside diner on Berryessa Road in East San Jose, California. It was here that Huang, Malachowsky, and Priem met and discussed their ambitions to build a company that could revolutionize computing through graphics-based processing​. (About Nvidia)

At the time, both Malachowsky and Priem were eager to leave Sun Microsystems, frustrated with the limitations and direction of the company. Huang, though securely positioned at LSI Logic, was persuaded by the compelling vision shared during that diner meeting. He eventually made the difficult decision to leave his position and lead the new startup as CEO​.

The trio initially worked out of Priem’s townhouse in Fremont, California, starting the company with just $40,000 in the bank. Shortly after, they raised $20 million in venture capital from firms like Sequoia Capital and Sutter Hill Ventures, giving them the boost they needed to begin product development​.

From the outset, the founders focused on solving one of the most computationally demanding problems of the time — real-time 3D graphics. As Huang later put it, video games became the “killer app” that justified immense R&D, leading to breakthroughs that would benefit broader computing applications, including AI​

The Billion-Dollar Boom: Why Computing Hardware Is the Hottest Market on the Planet

The computer hardware market, which includes the segment relevant to AI computing, has exhibited strong growth in recent years. The market size grew from $714.77 billion in 2024 to an estimated $760.98 billion in 2025, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. This historical growth can be attributed to several factors, including the personal computing revolution, the globalization of supply chains, the increasing prevalence of the internet, data center expansion, and advancements in operating systems. (Research and Markets)

Looking ahead, the computer hardware market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory. Projections indicate a rise to $972.16 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. This growth in the forecast period is supported by various factors. This includes the expansion of remote work infrastructure, the adoption of sustainable hardware practices, smart cities development, digital transformation initiatives, and the increasing prevalence of remote work. This translates to an expanded AI computing hardware market with similar CAGRs.

Key trends expected to shape the market during the forecast period include the rise of edge computing, the integration of AI and machine learning technologies, the adoption of modular and upgradeable systems, biometric security integration, and the growth of hybrid and multi-cloud environments. These trends specifically boost the need for increased AI computing hardware capabilities.

North America emerged as the largest regional market for computer hardware in 2024. Asia-Pacific holds the second-largest share, while Africa is the smallest region in the global market. The report covers a comprehensive set of regions, including Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. The study also encompasses a wide array of countries, offering detailed market insights at the national level.

About NVIDIA: Powering the Future of Computing

NVIDIA’s mission is to accelerate the future of computing. This ambitious goal is reflected in their continuous pursuit of innovation in GPU architecture, software platforms, and system-level solutions.  Their vision is to be at the forefront of advancements that are shaping the future, including AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and the metaverse. They strive to solve problems and provide solutions for these advancing technologies.

Problems Solved: 

NVIDIA addresses computationally intensive problems that traditional CPUs struggle with. The parallel processing architecture of their GPUs makes them exceptionally well-suited for tasks like:

• Artificial Intelligence: Training and inference of deep learning models, powering applications from image recognition and natural language processing to robotics and drug discovery.
• High-Performance Computing (HPC): Simulating complex scientific phenomena, enabling breakthroughs in fields like climate modeling, genomics, and materials science.
• Data Analytics: Accelerating data processing and analysis, allowing businesses to extract valuable insights from massive datasets.
• Autonomous Vehicles: Processing sensor data and making real-time decisions for self-driving cars.
• Professional Visualization: Rendering photorealistic images and videos for design, engineering, and content creation.
• Gaming: Providing high-fidelity and immersive gaming experiences.

Business Model: 

NVIDIA operates primarily as a fabless semiconductor company. This means they design and market their GPUs and other processors but outsource the actual manufacturing to third-party foundries like TSMC and Samsung. This model allows them to focus on research and development, design, and marketing, enabling them to quickly adapt to market demands and technological advancements. NVIDIA also has a software and services component to their business, which is becoming increasingly important.

Revenue Model: 

NVIDIA’s revenue is generated through a combination of hardware and software sales.

• GPU Sales: This is the core of their revenue stream, encompassing GPUs for gaming (GeForce), professional visualization (Quadro/RTX), and data centers (Tesla/A-Series).
• Data Center Solutions: This includes not only GPUs but also networking hardware (acquired through Mellanox), software platforms like CUDA, and complete server solutions.
• Automotive: Revenue from automotive applications like autonomous driving platforms.
• Software and Services: NVIDIA’s software, such as CUDA, AI Enterprise, and Omniverse, are increasingly important revenue streams. They sell software licenses and subscriptions that enable developers and businesses to leverage the power of their hardware.

OEM and Licensing: Royalties and licensing fees from partnerships with other technology companies.

Steering the Future: Nvidia’s Roadmap for Future Computing

NVIDIA’s impact extends far beyond gaming, offering a comprehensive suite of products, solutions, and features designed to revolutionize various industries. NVIDIA is renowned for its Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The company provides GPUs for diverse applications, including the GeForce series, favored by gamers for their high-performance graphics rendering. The Quadro line caters to professional visualization needs, offering the precision and reliability required for demanding tasks such as CAD, 3D modeling, and video editing. For data centers, the Tesla series provides the computational power necessary for accelerating scientific computing, deep learning, and data analytics.

Beyond individual GPUs, NVIDIA offers integrated systems like the NVIDIA DGX. These are built specifically for AI research and enterprise AI deployments. DGX systems deliver the high-performance computing power needed for deep learning model training and large-scale data analytics, enabling organizations to rapidly develop and deploy AI solutions. NVIDIA’s reach also extends into the automotive industry with the NVIDIA DRIVE platform. This end-to-end solution empowers the development of autonomous vehicles by offering DRIVE AGX hardware alongside DriveWorks software. Together, they provide the perception, mapping, and planning capabilities required for self-driving cars.

NVIDIA is also shaping the future of collaborative 3D workflows with NVIDIA Omniverse. This real-time simulation and collaboration platform allows creators, designers, and engineers to work together seamlessly in a shared virtual space. Omniverse streamlines 3D production pipelines and fosters innovation across various industries. Within the healthcare sector, NVIDIA Clara provides a platform offering AI and imaging technologies for medical instruments and workflows. Clara facilitates advancements in medical imaging, genomics, and other areas of medical research and practice. 

For edge AI applications, NVIDIA Jetson offers a range of embedded computing boards designed for robotics, drones, and IoT devices. Jetson empowers these devices with AI capabilities directly at the edge, enabling real-time processing and intelligent decision-making without relying on cloud connectivity. To optimize data center performance, NVIDIA BlueField Data Processing Units (DPUs) offload networking, storage, and security tasks from the CPUs. This results in improved data center efficiency and enhanced overall performance.

NVIDIA Maxine delivers a cloud-native platform for video conferencing services. Maxine utilizes AI to enhance video calls with features such as noise cancellation, virtual backgrounds, and face alignment, improving the user experience. NVIDIA AI Enterprise is a software suite optimized for AI workloads, providing tools and frameworks to accelerate AI development and deployment across various industries. Finally, NVIDIA NIM Microservices are microservices integrated into platforms, offering AI capabilities such as AI Lab as a Service and GPU-as-a-Service, showcasing NVIDIA’s commitment to delivering AI solutions across diverse platforms.

How NVIDIA Works: Innovation and Technology

NVIDIA’s impact extends far beyond gaming, offering a comprehensive suite of products, solutions, and features designed to revolutionize various industries.

NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPUs)

NVIDIA is renowned for its Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The company provides GPUs for diverse applications, including the GeForce series, favored by gamers for their high-performance graphics rendering. The Quadro line caters to professional visualization needs, offering the precision and reliability required for demanding tasks such as CAD, 3D modeling, and video editing. For data centers, the Tesla series provides the computational power necessary for accelerating scientific computing, deep learning, and data analytics.

NVIDIA DGX Systems for AI and Data Analytics

Beyond individual GPUs, NVIDIA offers integrated systems like the NVIDIA DGX. These are built specifically for AI research and enterprise AI deployments. DGX systems deliver the high-performance computing power needed for deep learning model training and large-scale data analytics, enabling organizations to rapidly develop and deploy AI solutions.

NVIDIA DRIVE Platform for Autonomous Vehicles

NVIDIA’s reach also extends into the automotive industry with the NVIDIA DRIVE platform. This end-to-end solution empowers the development of autonomous vehicles by offering DRIVE AGX hardware alongside DriveWorks software. Together, they provide the perception, mapping, and planning capabilities required for self-driving cars.

NVIDIA Omniverse for Collaborative 3D Workflows

NVIDIA is also shaping the future of collaborative 3D workflows with NVIDIA Omniverse. This real-time simulation and collaboration platform allows creators, designers, and engineers to work together seamlessly in a shared virtual space. Omniverse streamlines 3D production pipelines and fosters innovation across various industries.

NVIDIA Clara for Medical AI and Imaging

Within the healthcare sector, NVIDIA Clara provides a platform offering AI and imaging technologies for medical instruments and workflows. Clara facilitates advancements in medical imaging, genomics, and other areas of medical research and practice.

NVIDIA Jetson for Edge AI Applications

For edge AI applications, NVIDIA Jetson offers a range of embedded computing boards designed for robotics, drones, and IoT devices. Jetson empowers these devices with AI capabilities directly at the edge, enabling real-time processing and intelligent decision-making without relying on cloud connectivity.

NVIDIA BlueField DPUs for Data Center Optimization

To optimize data center performance, NVIDIA BlueField Data Processing Units (DPUs) offload networking, storage, and security tasks from the CPUs. This results in improved data center efficiency and enhanced overall performance.

NVIDIA Maxine for Enhanced Video Conferencing

NVIDIA Maxine delivers a cloud-native platform for video conferencing services. Maxine utilizes AI to enhance video calls with features such as noise cancellation, virtual backgrounds, and face alignment, improving the user experience.

NVIDIA AI Enterprise Software Suite

NVIDIA AI Enterprise is a software suite optimized for AI workloads, providing tools and frameworks to accelerate AI development and deployment across various industries.

NVIDIA NIM Microservices for Integrated AI

Finally, NVIDIA NIM Microservices are microservices integrated into platforms, offering AI capabilities such as AI Lab as a Service and GPU-as-a-Service, showcasing NVIDIA’s commitment to delivering AI solutions across diverse platforms.

Trophies, Tech, and Trailblazing: Nvidia’s Award-Winning Legacy

NVIDIA has made a significant market impact across several key sectors, most notably AI research, gaming, and data centers. The company’s GPUs are foundational to accelerated computing and AI infrastructure, solidifying its position as a leader in these domains. This impact is further demonstrated by NVIDIA’s extensive client base, including collaborations with major corporations like General Motors, Foxconn, Tata Group, Wipro, and Reliance Industries, showcasing its broad reach across various industries.

Beyond its technological and market prowess, NVIDIA has garnered recognition for its commitment to its employees and the community. The company has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, demonstrating its dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace. Further underscoring its support for employees and families, NVIDIA ranked 2 on the Dave Thomas Foundation’s 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces and was featured among Fortune’s 50 Best Workplaces for Parents. Its appeal to younger generations is highlighted by its inclusion in Fortune’s 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials.

NVIDIA’s philanthropic efforts, including donations and employee fund-matching programs that support community and charitable organizations, reflect a commitment to social responsibility. Furthermore, the company’s AI servers have consistently demonstrated significant performance improvements, as evidenced by the MLCommons’ AI benchmarks, where they achieved speeds 2.8 to 3.4 times faster than previous models, highlighting NVIDIA’s continued innovation and leadership in the AI space.

Power Moves Only: The Collabs That Supercharged Nvidia’s Empire

Nvidia’s strategic collaborations are a cornerstone of its growth, enabling the company to extend its reach and impact across diverse industries. The company actively forges partnerships to develop cutting-edge AI solutions and drive innovation in various sectors.

In the automotive industry, Nvidia is collaborating with major players like General Motors (GM) and Toyota. The GM partnership, announced in March 2025, focuses on developing AI systems for next-generation vehicles and manufacturing processes, leveraging NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platforms, Omniverse, and DRIVE AGX hardware. Nvidia also partnered with Toyota to develop next-generation autonomous vehicles powered by Nvidia’s DriveOS operating system. Nvidia also has a partnership with Aurora to launch driverless trucks using NVIDIA’s hardware.

Nvidia is also committed to advancing AI infrastructure through strategic alliances. The company joined a $30 billion AI infrastructure fund backed by BlackRock, Microsoft, and Abu Dhabi, with a focus on developing data centers and energy projects to support generative AI technologies. A collaboration with Cisco aims to simplify the building of AI-ready data center networks by integrating Cisco’s Silicon One with NVIDIA’s Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform. ASUS also announced the upcoming shipment of the ASUS AI POD, featuring the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 platform.

Furthermore, Nvidia is strengthening its position in enterprise AI solutions through partnerships with companies like Infosys and Tata Group. Infosys is establishing an NVIDIA Center of Excellence to train and certify employees on NVIDIA AI technology, while the Tata Group collaboration focuses on building large-scale AI infrastructure in India, including an AI supercomputer powered by NVIDIA’s GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip. Nvidia is also involved in healthcare collaborations with industry leaders like Mayo Clinic and Arc Institute to advance AI applications in genomics, drug discovery, and healthcare. These partnerships underscore Nvidia’s commitment to driving innovation and shaping the future of AI across various sectors.

Billions in the Bank: How Nvidia Keeps Investors Drooling

Nvidia has secured a total funding of $4.095 billion across seven funding rounds, demonstrating strong investor confidence in its vision. Interestingly, three of these rounds occurred post-IPO, indicating Nvidia’s continued ability to attract capital even as a publicly traded company. The company has attracted a total of 36 investors, all of them being institutional, pointing to a reliance on institutional backing for financial growth. (Tracxn)

A breakdown of funding rounds reveals a diverse range of sources, including corporate investments and grant prize money. Notably, SoftBank Group contributed $220 million in August 2020, and Morgan Stanley invested $42.0 million post-IPO in May 2001. The company also benefits from grants, including a $5.0 million grant from the DOE in May 2023 and $2.3 million from the European Union in January 2023. These grants highlight Nvidia’s engagement with public sector initiatives.

Looking at Nvidia’s financial performance, the company has demonstrated significant revenue growth over the years. The TTM (Trailing Twelve Months) revenue reached $38.3 billion in May 2023 and $27.0 billion in January 2023. Furthermore, financial year revenues have increased significantly. From $10.9 billion in FY 2019-2020, revenue increased to $60.9B in FY 2023-24.

Vision Meets Silicon: Why Nvidia Isn’t Just Building Chips

Nvidia’s journey, fueled by its pioneering work in GPUs and now accelerated computing platforms, demonstrates the immense potential that lies at the intersection of vision and execution. From revolutionizing gaming with stunning graphics to powering breakthroughs in AI, data science, and autonomous vehicles, Nvidia consistently pushes the boundaries of what’s possible..

Nvidia’s success is a testament to the power of innovation and the relentless pursuit of technological advancement. It’s a reminder that groundbreaking ideas, when coupled with dedicated effort, can transform industries and reshape the world. 

So, what groundbreaking idea are you nurturing? What problem are you itching to solve? Don’t let your vision gather dust. Take inspiration from Nvidia’s journey and start building. The world needs your ingenuity, your passion, and your unique perspective.

We hope this exploration of Nvidia has sparked your curiosity and inspired you to think big. Venture Kites is committed to bringing you detailed analysis and information to help you better understand the technologies that are shaping the future. For more insightful articles on innovative companies and emerging technologies be sure to check out our other articles on Venture Kites. Keep exploring, keep innovating, and keep building!