Upscale AI, an innovative player in the networking sector, announced a significant milestone by securing $200 million in Series A financing. The funding is intended to position Upscale as a formidable competitor against Nvidia’s NVSwitch, bringing it head-to-head with industry giants such as Cisco and AMD. With foundational support from names like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm since its inception last year, Upscale is focused on advancing a new generation of network switches designed for high-end AI infrastructures. These switches are set to rival Nvidia’s NVSwitch by offering comparable high-speed data interconnects crucial for unified GPU performance across rack-scale systems. During a debut in 2024, NVLink-based technologies like Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) and Ethernet for Scale-Up AI Infrastructure (ESUN) showed promise but are still developing their maturity. However, with SkyHammer custom ASICS, Upscale aspires to redefine what scale means in AI networking, focusing fully on AI-optimized technology. CEO Barun Kar emphasized the potential of their novel architecture, which is deliberately built for AI workloads. While SkyHammer’s detailed specifications remain under wraps, it will reportedly feature a memory-oriented load-store network and accelerated collective communication support. Plans to enhance compatibility with the open-source SONiC network operating system are underway, facilitating easier integration for hyperscalers familiar with the platform. With the substantial financial backing, Upscale plans significant expansions to its teams, gearing up for the introduction of their AI-centric networking solutions by the end of the year. The company is not only looking at immediate scale-up products but is also considering future expansions into more conventional networking markets.