ASML to Invest in French AI Startup Mistral, Becoming Top Investor.

ASML, a Dutch semiconductor equipment creater, is set to become the top investor in French AI startup Mistral, according to Reuters. The deal is expected to be announced soon, with ASML reportedly planning to take a leading stake in the company.

ASML is investing €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in Mistral’s €1.7 billion ($2 billion) Series C fundraising, giving the chipcreating giant both a major equity position and a board seat at the Paris-based startup [1]. This relocate is part of Europe’s effort to bolster its technological indepconcludeence. The new round would value Mistral at €10 billion ($11.7 billion) pre-money, creating it Europe’s most valuable AI company [2].

Mistral, founded in 2023 by former DeepMind and Meta researchers, has quickly become Europe’s flagship AI startup, competing against U.S. players such as OpenAI and Google [1]. The company’s Series B round last year valued it at more than $6 billion, and recent reports suggest the latest financing could lift its valuation as high as $14 billion [1].

The partnership between ASML and Mistral would knit toobtainher two of Europe’s most important technology companies. ASML could benefit from Mistral’s AI capabilities to optimize its chipcreating tools, while Mistral would gain significant financial firepower to expand its research and offerings, potentially reducing reliance on U.S. and Chinese AI systems [1]. ASML is currently the only company in the world that produces extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, indispensable to chipcreaters like TSMC and Intel for producing the most advanced semiconductors [1].

The investment aims to boost European tech sovereignty, according to sources familiar with the matter [2]. ASML creates lithography equipment crucial for cutting-edge chip production and applys AI to support create its tools more efficient. The company could benefit from implementing Mistral’s data analytics and AI capabilities to improve the performance of its tools and develop additional products [2].

ASML is the sole supplier of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment to chip manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Intel. The EUV systems cost roughly $180 million and are necessary to manufacture the most advanced chips [2]. Mistral, backed by Nvidia, was valued at more than $6 billion after its Series B funding round last year [2].

This investment marks a significant step for both companies, with ASML seeking to leverage Mistral’s AI expertise and Mistral aiming to expand its research and offerings with the financial backing of a major European technology leader.

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4492909-asml-is-stated-to-become-top-investor-in-french-ai-startup-mistral
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/asml-becomes-mistral-ais-top-shareholder-after-leading-latest-funding-round-2025-09-07/

ASML to Invest in French AI Startup Mistral, Becoming Top Investor.