CoreWeave Raises $1.5 Billion in Below-Target IPO

The company successfully sold 37.5 million shares at $40 each, falling short of its initial goal of offering 49 million shares priced between $47 and $55, which could have potentially raised $2.69 billion. CoreWeave had originally aimed for a $4 billion IPO at a $35 billion valuation, but due to market volatility and stock market decline, the target was revised downwards to approximately $23 billion. Nvidia, a well-known chip maker and existing investor in CoreWeave, participated in the IPO by purchasing $250 million worth of shares, demonstrating their continued support for CoreWeave's expansion into AI operations. Founded in 2017, CoreWeave initially focused on crypto mining, specifically Ethereum mining, but shifted towards artificial intelligence (AI) following Ethereum's network transition in 2022. CoreWeave has since become a significant player in the AI industry, utilizing its infrastructure to support AI workloads. In addition to the IPO, CoreWeave has a 12-year partnership with CoreScientific, a bitcoin mining company, allowing them to use CoreScientific's mining facilities for their AI operations. CoreWeave's shares are scheduled to debut on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "CRWV" on Friday, marking a significant milestone as the company shifts from a crypto-focused firm to a major player in the AI industry.