A new digital infrastructure company has been launched by KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, US electricity company Vistra and technology firm Nvidia, with more than $10bn (€8.7bn) in total long-duration capital commitments secured to develop next-generation assets.
Helix Digital Infrastructure will invest in and manage AI-enabling infrastructure, focusing on hyperscale data centre development and operations, alongside baseload and flexible power generation.
Helix will also invest in transmission and distribution networks, as well as fibre and connectivity infrastructure.
Within the platform, Nvidia will provide the technical architecture for AI-enabling computing, with Vistra providing power generation and energy transmission capabilities required to support the assets.
Helix is led by its co-founder and former Amazon Web Services CEO, Adam Selipsky. Waldemar Szlezak, KKR’s global head of digital infrastructure, has been appointed as the platform’s chief investment officer.
Selipsky said: “Large users of digital infrastructure have an urgent need to reduce complexity and unlock new capacity. Helix combines significant long-term capital with the capabilities and expertise to deliver holistic AI infrastructure solutions with speed and scale.”
Sheikh Saoud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah, managing director of the Kuwait Investment Authority, said: “We view AI infrastructure as one of the defining long-term investment opportunities globally, and Helix is purpose-built to address it.
“Helix reflects a differentiated model that combines proven leadership, integrated capabilities and long-term capital required to deliver the next generation of critical digital infrastructure at scale.”
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, said: “Useful AI has arrived, and demand for AI factories is extraordinary. AI is driving the largest infrastructure buildout in modern history.
“With the NVIDIA DSX platform and the Helix strategic partnership, we are bringing together a proven AI factory blueprint, world-class infrastructure expertise from KKR, and long-term capital to help AI cloud providers build the next generation of intelligence infrastructure.”
Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra, said: “Helix brings together data centre development, infrastructure and power capabilities under a single umbrella, providing a one-stop shop for large load customers. By utilising Vistra’s existing fleet to deliver near-term power, Helix will accelerate delivery of power solutions through the use of existing assets while also bringing additionality with Vistra’s best-in-class capabilities, including power generation development and power grid expertise.”
Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall, co-CEOs, KKR, said: “Like a DNA helix, Helix Digital Infrastructure is built on a double strand of complementary strengths – KKR’s institutional capital and infrastructure expertise intertwined with Helix’s hyperscaler leadership and execution engine.
“Together, with our strategic partners, we are positioned to meet the financial and operational demands of the AI era.”
Helix is open to additional eligible institutional investors.
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