NFL star Saquon Barkley jumps in alongside Nvidia to back AI data center startup Crusoe

NFL superstar Saquon Barkley has taken a significant step into the tech investment arena by supporting the AI data center startup, Crusoe. This company, which brands itself as "the AI Factory Company," has recently secured a valuation exceeding $10 billion following a robust $1.4 billion funding round. Crusoe has quickly positioned itself as a frontrunner in AI infrastructure, utilizing a unique strategy that blends sustainable energy sourcing with AI-optimized data center construction and proprietary cloud services. The latest funding announcement, made public on Friday, features a distinguished roster of investors, including Valor Equity Partners, Mubadala Capital, and Nvidia, among others. Barkley's involvement comes as a surprise to some, but the Philadelphia Eagles running back has previously ventured into the tech realm, actively investing in various AI and startup initiatives. Notably, he has stakes in AI firm Anthropic, Neuralink founded by Elon Musk, and the prediction platform Polymarket, as detailed in a recent analysis by The Profile. The NFL star has stated that he primarily relies on endorsement deals for his income, directing a majority of his football earnings towards investments. His journey into startup investing was inspired by reading Peter Thiel's influential book, "Zero to One," and he personally engages with startup founders before committing his financial support, according to reports. Crusoe's mission to harness energy for intelligence resonates with Barkley's passion for innovation and sustainable wealth generation. The company operates large-scale, clean-energy-powered data centers that are designed to enhance AI development by alleviating data processing bottlenecks. Numerous leading AI startups, such as Together AI and Fireworks, leverage Crusoe's cloud services for their operations. While details surrounding Barkley's decision to invest in Crusoe remain undisclosed, the participation of Founders Fund in this funding round indicates strong industry backing.