Semiconductor startup Positron has secured $230 million in Series B funding, underscoring growing investor appetite for alternatives to Nvidia as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure intensifies and the industry searches for more efficient ways to run AI systems at scale.

The funding round, which TechCrunch learned about exclusively, was led by investors including the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund. The capital will be used to accelerate the deployment of Positron’s high-speed memory chips. This component has become increasingly central to AI performance as workloads shift from model training to real-world deployment, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Reno-based company’s latest raise lifts its total funding to just over $300 million in three years, marking a rapid accumulation of capital for a startup operating in one of the most competitive segments of the semiconductor industry. Positron previously raised $75 million last year from investors such as Valor Equity Partners, Atreides Management, DFJ Growth, Flume Ventures, and Resilience Reserve.

Positron’s momentum comes at a time when hyperscalers and AI developers are reassessing their heavy dependence on Nvidia, which has dominated the market for AI accelerators. Some of Nvidia’s largest customers have been exploring alternative suppliers, driven by concerns around power consumption, cost, and the pace of innovation. OpenAI, one of Nvidia’s most prominent customers, has been reported to be evaluating options beyond Nvidia’s latest chips as it looks to diversify its compute stack.

At the center of Positron’s pitch is Atlas, its first-generation chip manufactured in Arizona. The company claims Atlas can match the performance of Nvidia’s H100 GPUs while consuming less than a third of the power. That focus on energy efficiency is increasingly important as data centers grapple with rising electricity costs and capacity constraints, particularly as AI inference workloads scale rapidly across consumer and enterprise applications.

Unlike many startups that target the training of massive language models, Positron is positioning itself squarely in inference, the phase where trained models are run to generate responses, analyze data, or process video and speech in production environments. Industry analysts say this segment is poised for explosive growth as companies move from experimentation to deployment, creating sustained demand for hardware optimized for speed, efficiency, and predictable performance.

Sources familiar with Positron’s technology told TechCrunch that its chips also show strong results in high-frequency computing and video-processing workloads, expanding their appeal beyond traditional text-based AI applications. That breadth could help the company tap into sectors such as media, surveillance, autonomous systems, and financial services, where low latency and efficient data movement are critical.

Qatar’s participation in the funding round highlights a broader strategic push by the Gulf state to secure a foothold in global AI infrastructure. Through QIA, Qatar has been directing capital into what it describes as “sovereign” AI capabilities, viewing compute capacity as a strategic asset tied to economic competitiveness. That message was repeatedly reinforced at Web Summit Qatar in Doha this week, where government officials and investors framed AI infrastructure as essential national plumbing rather than a purely commercial play.

The strategy is already being backed with significant capital. In September, Qatar announced a $20 billion joint venture with Brookfield Asset Management focused on AI infrastructure, signaling a long-term commitment to data centers, compute platforms, and the ecosystems around them. Investments in startups like Positron fit into that broader ambition to position the country as a regional hub for AI services in the Middle East.

For Positron, the challenge now shifts from fundraising to execution. The AI chip market is crowded with well-capitalized players, and scaling manufacturing, securing customers, and proving performance claims in real-world deployments will be critical. Yet the combination of strong investor backing, a clear focus on inference, and growing dissatisfaction with incumbent solutions suggests the startup is entering the market at a moment when customers are more open than ever to new options.

As AI workloads continue to spread across industries, the race is no longer only about building the biggest models, but about running them efficiently, reliably, and at scale. Positron is betting that its approach to memory and power efficiency can carve out a meaningful share of that future.

Prices of car transport services are not constant throughout the year. Seasonal demand primarily drives these price adjustments. Knowing the seasonal influences on car shipping rates can prepare both businesses and individuals to plan for better value and fewer surprises.

Seasonal Trends in Car Transport

There are realistic trends in car shipping every year. During certain months, the demand for vehicle transport increases, leading to a higher need for shipping services. During the summer, families often relocate, and it is the peak season for auto shipping. It is based on these seasons primarily that decide how much to ship a car from Florida to California. Furthermore, snowbirds usually move their cars south before winter and back north when the temperatures rise. The seasonal nature of these movements produces highs and lows of demand for transport costs throughout the region.

Impact of High Demand Periods

Carriers have more work on their hands when demand surges. When there are more requests for shipment than there are spots on trucks, prices increase. Consequently, those who are shipping cars in peak seasons tend to pay a higher price than during low-season periods. The higher the demand, the longer it takes for one carrier to fill up quickly. Scheduling shipments beforehand to stay clear of peak seasons could minimize the risk of bloated costs and ensure timely deliveries.

Winter Challenges and Pricing

If summer is the busiest time for car transporters, then winter is completely another game altogether. Carrier availability can be stretched further when inclement weather, frigid road conditions, and limited daylight hours slow transport operations. Some routes are becoming increasingly risky or impossible to transport on, and this creates a price adjustment to cover the increased risk and risk of delay. This means during these months, there are typically fewer carriers willing to move, and that will increase the overall costs for anyone who has to ship their vehicle. 

Summer Surges and Their Influence

Various events from the summer usually have the greatest demand for car shipping. Families move, college students move, and dealerships prepare for new inventory. This surge in demand leads to a higher volume of vehicles requiring transportation, creating a competitive market for carriers to reserve slots. As this becomes more common, demand for these services increases, rates go up, and available slots get filled up quickly. 

Regional Variations Due to Climate

Climate allows for seasonal demand to cause distinct impacts in different regions. As winter approaches, we see a surge in inquiries about car shipping services from residents in southern states who want to ship their cars north to avoid harsh conditions like snow and ice. In contrast, spring brings a comeback as things warm up, and many need a ride northward. This behavior creates temporary local shortages or oversupplies of availability, causing rates to rise and fall within a short time frame. 

Seasons Affecting Supply Chain Characteristics 

Seasonality impacts stable demand on the supply side. Carriers need to adapt their activities to the weather, street conditions, and customer requirements. As one example, hurricanes or snowstorms disrupt routes, resulting in route delays and short-term price spikes. Challenging seasons may also lead to increased costs for carriers on fuel, maintenance, or insurance. These additional expenses translate into higher costs, which, in the end, customers inevitably pay.

Economic Factors and Seasonal Pricing

The broader economy either magnifies or dampens the effects of seasonal pricing. Carrier costs may be higher during peak times due to inflation, fuel costs, and labor shortages. Combine these economic factors with strong seasonal demand, and car shipping prices can soar quickly. Conversely, weaker economic times might dampen demand, even in peak seasons, resulting in steadier prices. While seasonal signals help those planning to ship vehicles, they also need to watch broader economic signals.

Ways of Dealing With Price Seasonality

There are ways to preemptively mitigate the impact of seasonal demand on pricing, but it all comes down to early planning. Reserving one week or more ahead of peak periods is far more effective, allowing for the best rates and preferred scheduling for car transport. Being flexible with pickup and delivery dates could be helpful as well, as carriers sometimes offer lower rates for less busy days. Accessing many different quotes and understanding market dynamics provides shippers with a sense of fair market pricing. 

Conclusion

Auto transport rates are influenced by normal seasonal trends along with the broader economy. Understanding how these factors interact can help you and the organization. These few key strategies can get you the best rates any time of the year, even during peak season or high demand. However, with the right amount of planning ahead of time, you can easily overcome the seasonal price changes and ensure that the process of shipping your car happens without any hassle and at a great value for your money.