Weka, a startup that aims to simplify the challenge of making data continuously available for AI systems, has raised $140 million in a series E funding round. This investment, which comes entirely from existing investors, has doubled the company’s valuation to $1.6 billion. The fresh capital will be used to enhance Weka’s platform, a software-based solution that eliminates data bottlenecks and increases the efficiency and sustainability of AI workloads.
What sets Weka apart is its “dynamic data pipeline” approach. Traditional AI pipelines often involve multiple steps of copying datasets, which creates bottlenecks and slows down training processes. Weka’s software-based data platform eliminates the need for time-intensive copying and keeps GPUs constantly fed with data. This allows models to be trained faster and more efficiently, leading to quicker insights and better business outcomes.
The core of Weka’s platform is its scale-out, shared parallel file system called WekaFS. It interfaces directly with PCIe-connected NVMe drives and delivers 10x the performance of legacy network attached storage (NAS) systems. This makes it suitable for a wide range of data types and sizes, as well as demanding data environments.
In addition to performance improvements, Weka also focuses on sustainability. By improving GPU utilization with dynamic pipelines, the platform can help customers save 260 tons of CO2e per petabyte of data stored. This makes Weka the most sustainable way to implement large AI projects, according to Jonathan Martin, president at Weka.
Despite the recent surge in demand for AI infrastructure, Weka has been prepared for this shift since its inception. Instead of evolving its product to meet market needs, the company has been aggressively selling to customers who are already interested in its solution. Currently, Weka has over 300 customers, including 12 of the Fortune 50 companies.
With the new funding, Weka plans to scale its business and meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure. This includes investing in research and development, enhancing the data platform, and focusing on customer success. The company also expects to expand its global workforce by at least 25% by the end of this fiscal year.
In the distributed file system space, Weka faces competition from players like VAST Data, Nutanix, IBM, Dell Technologies, Qumulo, and Pure Storage. However, with its unique approach to data availability and its focus on sustainability, Weka is well-positioned to continue its growth in the AI market.