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Samsung commits $1 billion to Helix, KKR's AI infrastructure company

Samsung Electronics and five other Samsung companies committed $1 billion on Monday to Helix, after KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, Nvidia and Vistra had already pledged more than $10 billion.

· 2 min read · ETF.net Research

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Photo by Jakub Pabis on Pexels

Key takeaways

  • Samsung's $1 billion is pledged capital, not spent cash.
  • Five affiliates share the half Electronics is not taking.
  • Samsung called power the greatest bottleneck in AI.
  • A first look at Helix projects is not an order.

Samsung Electronics and five other Samsung companies committed $1 billion on Monday evening in New York to Helix Digital Infrastructure. KKR formed the company in June to fund and build the data centers, power generation and transmission, and fiber and connectivity that artificial intelligence needs.

Samsung Electronics is putting in $500 million. Samsung C&T, Samsung SDS, Samsung SDI, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance are putting in the other $500 million together.

The $1 billion is pledged capital. Samsung and Helix did not give the split among those five, Samsung's stake, a valuation for Helix, a board seat or a supply contract.

The new money adds to more than $10 billion that KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, Nvidia and the US power company Vistra pledged when they launched Helix. Nvidia is a founding investor and a strategic partner, and Vistra is Helix's preferred power provider.

Samsung said it wants to move from supplying hardware components to taking part in the infrastructure itself, and it called power the greatest bottleneck. Helix said it expects to look at Samsung's technology, construction, energy storage and cooling.

Samsung C&T already builds data centers and power plants as a contractor. Samsung's DX division sells data-center cooling through FläktGroup, a company Samsung bought in 2025. Samsung SDI makes battery backup units for data-center servers.

Partners may get a first look at supplying Helix's projects. The question that decides whether this deal matters is whether that first look becomes an order. Helix and Samsung are the ones who would have to name a site, a power total and a contract.

Frequently asked

What is Helix?

KKR formed Helix in June to fund and build the data centers, power and connectivity that artificial intelligence needs.

How is Samsung's $1 billion split?

Samsung Electronics is putting in $500 million, and five other Samsung companies are putting in the other $500 million together.

Who else has already backed Helix?

KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, Nvidia and Vistra had already pledged more than $10 billion.

Does the commitment include a supply contract?

Samsung and Helix did not give a supply contract, Samsung's stake, a valuation or a board seat.

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