Nscale, a U.K.-based AI data center startup, has appointed former OpenAI, Meta, and Instacart executive Fidji Simo to its board as the company prepares for an anticipated initial public offering this fall. Simo joins existing board members Sheryl Sandberg, Susan Decker, and Nick Clegg.
Simo previously served as CEO of AGI deployment at OpenAI, effectively the lab’s second-highest executive role, before stepping down in July for health reasons; she continues to advise the company part-time. Prior to OpenAI, she led Instacart as chair and CEO through its 2023 IPO, and spent more than a decade at Meta, including heading the Facebook app. She also serves on Shopify’s board.
Nscale founder and CEO Josh Payne said Simo brings experience relevant to scaling products used by billions of people and the infrastructure demands that come with it, describing the board as deliberately assembled with leaders capable of providing the operating depth and financial rigor expected of companies at Nscale’s scale.
Founded two years ago, Nscale designs, builds, and operates AI data centers and has seen its valuation grow rapidly amid surging demand for AI infrastructure. The company is reportedly seeking to raise up to $3.5 billion in pre-IPO financing, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
