Jensen Huang resigns, leaving AI startup funding in limbo

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has officially stepped down after 33 years leading the chipmaking giant. His departure creates a major vacuum in the AI startup ecosystem, as Huang personally drove Nvidia's aggressive investment strategy in AI-native companies, pouring tens of billions of dollars annually into startups.

The resignation leaves startups, especially those building expensive neocloud, inference, and open-weight models, facing a potential funding cliff. Investors doubt interim CEO Colette Kress will maintain Huang's prolific deal-making pace, which could significantly slow AI innovation and dealmaking. The takeaway: The AI gold rush just lost its most influential banker.