Verda Raises $117 Million to Expand AI Cloud Infrastructure Beyond Europe
Verda, a Helsinki-based AI cloud infrastructure company, has raised $117 million in new funding to accelerate hiring and geographic expansion. The round includes equity financing led by Lifeline Ventures alongside debt from Nordic financial institutions. The company plans to hire more than 100 employees and launch operations in the UK, US, and Asia this year.
Founded in 2020 and rebranded from DataCrunch in November 2025, Verda provides on-demand compute access without the procurement friction of traditional cloud providers. The company manages its own physical servers, data centers, networking, and developer tools-a vertically integrated model that differs from competitors who resell rented GPU capacity.
Operating Model and Competitive Position
Verda operates data centers in Finland and Iceland using renewable energy and natural cooling. This infrastructure approach reduces operating costs and positions the company against competitors in warmer regions that face higher cooling expenses.
The company holds NVIDIA Preferred Partner status, giving it priority access to new GPU hardware when compute remains constrained for enterprise teams. Current customers include Nokia, 1X, ExpressVPN, and Freepik.
Financial Trajectory
Verda is already cash-flow positive with an annualized revenue run rate exceeding $60 million in the first quarter of 2026. The company has raised approximately $170 million total since founding, following a $13 million seed round and a $64 million Series A in January 2026.
The new funding will support expansion into California and Asia, along with additional data center construction in Sweden. Verda says it intends to remain European-owned while positioning geographic neutrality as a differentiator against US-focused providers.
What This Means for Product Teams
For product development leaders, Verda's approach demonstrates a specific competitive strategy: vertical integration removes dependencies on third-party GPU suppliers and creates direct feedback loops between infrastructure and product. The company's AI Lab team works directly with customers to inform product decisions-a model worth considering if your organization evaluates compute providers.
The emphasis on renewable-powered infrastructure and geographic diversity also signals growing customer demand for sustainability and regulatory compliance in AI infrastructure choices.
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