Nscale, a UK-based startup focused on AI infrastructure, has appointed Fidji Simo to its board of directors. The move comes as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO) this fall.
Background on the new board member
Fidji Simo previously served at OpenAI as CEO of AGI deployment, a role that made her effectively the lab’s No. 2 executive. She left OpenAI in July citing health reasons, but continues to advise the company on a part-time basis.
Before OpenAI, Simo was chair and CEO of Instacart and led that company through its 2023 IPO. She spent more than a decade at Meta, including a period as head of the Facebook app, and she is also a member of Shopify’s board.
The board and strategic rationale
Simo will join a high-profile board that already includes Sheryl Sandberg, Susan Decker and Nick Clegg. Josh Payne, Nscale’s founder and CEO, said Simo is one of the few leaders who understands what it takes to scale products used by billions and the demands those products place on underlying systems.
In Payne’s words: “That’s what we’re building for at Nscale. Fidji joins a board we’ve built deliberately, with the experience of scaling platforms to the largest in the world, and the independence, financial rigor and operating depth to which companies at this scale are held.”
Valuation, fundraising and IPO prospects
Nscale’s valuation has risen rapidly since the company was founded less than two years ago amid booming demand for AI infrastructure. The startup designs, builds and operates AI data centers.
According to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources, the company is reportedly trying to raise up to $3.5 billion ahead of a planned IPO. The listing is expected this fall, although timing and terms remain subject to change as the process progresses.
Why this matters
The appointment signals Nscale’s intent to bring seasoned product and platform scaling experience to its governance as it readies for public markets. Simo’s background in AGI deployment, large-scale platform operations and managing a prior IPO provides skills that are directly relevant to Nscale’s infrastructure and operational challenges.
