Nvidia's Uncertainty in Chinese Market

Nvidia Corporation, founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a pioneering American technology company best known for inventing the graphics processing unit (GPU) in 1999[1][2][4]. Initially focused on GPUs for video gaming, Nvidia has expanded its scope to serve diverse markets, including artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), professional visualization, automotive technology, and mobile devices[1][3]. Nvidia’s GPUs, such as the GeForce series for gamers and the RTX series for professional applications, are central to its dominance, controlling over 90% of the discrete GPU market as of early 2025[1][4]. The company’s investment in CUDA, a parallel computing platform and API launched in the early 2000s, revolutionized GPU computing by enabling GPUs to accelerate a wide range of compute-intensive tasks, particularly in AI and scientific research[1][4]. By 2025, Nvidia commanded over 80% of the GPU market for AI training and inference and supplied chips to more than 75% of the world’s top 500 supercomputers[1]. Nvidia’s influence extends beyond hardware. It offers a comprehensive ecosystem including software platforms like Omniverse for 3D simulation and digital twins, AI frameworks such as MONAI for medical imaging, and Jetson for robotics and edge AI[2][3]. Its technologies power autonomous vehicle data centers, AI factories, and cloud gaming services like GeForce Now[2][7]. Financially, Nvidia achieved record full-year revenue of $130.5 billion in fiscal 2025, with a workforce of over 36,000 employees worldwide and a robust patent portfolio exceeding 8,700 applications[2]. The company is recognized for innovation and workplace excellence, topping Forbes’ "America’s Best Companies 2025" and Fast Company’s "World’s Most Innovative Companies"

**Mellanox Technologies: A Legacy of Innovation in Networking** Mellanox Technologies, founded in 1999 by Eyal Waldman and other former Israeli executives from Intel and Galileo Technology, emerged as a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance networking solutions. Initially based in Yokneam, Israel, and later expanding to Sunnyvale, California, Mellanox specialized in end-to-end InfiniBand and Ethernet interconnects. These technologies were pivotal in high-performance computing, data centers, cloud computing, and financial services, where speed and efficiency are paramount[1][2]. ### History and Achievements Mellanox's journey began with a focus on integrated circuits, evolving into a comprehensive network systems provider by 2009. The company secured significant funding, including a $56 million venture capital round in 2002, and went public in 2007, raising $102 million. Its products, such as ConnectX adapters and Spectrum switches, became staples in data-intensive environments[1][2]. ### Acquisition and Current Status In March 2019, NVIDIA announced its acquisition of Mellanox for $6.9 billion, closing the deal in April 2020. This strategic move integrated Mellanox's networking expertise with NVIDIA's computing prowess, creating a powerful synergy for data centers and AI applications. Post-acquisition, Mellanox's brand name was phased out, with its technologies now integral to NVIDIA's networking division[1][2]. ### Notable Aspects Mellanox's innovative culture and strategic location in Israel's tech hub, 'Silicon Wadi,' allowed it to tap into a rich talent pool. The company's emphasis on performance and technological excellence has been absorbed into NVIDIA's broader R&D ethos. Mellanox's legacy continues to drive advancements in networking, contributing to the development of modern data centers and AI workloads[2][3]. Today, its former operations remain a crucial part of NVIDIA's global R&D network,