Groq
Location
California
Founded
2016
Invested
2024
Category
AI
Groq is redefining AI inference by delivering unmatched speed, efficiency, and scalability via its purpose-built LPU architecture. As demand for real-time, cost-effective AI grows, Groq’s technological leadership and robust funding position it to challenge market incumbents and enable a new generation of AI applications at scale.
Groq is an AI infrastructure company that develops and deploys its own Language Processing Units (LPUs)—custom silicon designed specifically for inference workloads. Founded in 2016 by former Google engineers, including CEO Jonathan Ross, Groq offers both cloud-native and on-prem solutions (GroqCloud™ and GroqRack™) that provide sub-millisecond latency, energy efficiency, and deterministic performance. Their platform serves over 1.7 million developers and enterprise clients such as Dropbox, Volkswagen, and Bell Canada, delivering real-time capabilities across large language models, image classification, and predictive analytics.
Groq has secured major strategic funding—including a $640 M Series D led by BlackRock and Samsung Catalyst Fund—at a valuation of $2.8 B. They also forged high-profile partnerships with Meta and sovereign cloud initiatives in Saudi Arabia, with plans to deploy over 108,000 LPUs by early 2025. Positioned as a viable alternative to GPU-based inference providers like Nvidia, Groq addresses a critical bottleneck in AI deployment and is scaling both its compute and commercial footprint to meet surging global demand.