The Dutch Connection: French AI Leader Gets Backing from European Tech Giant ASML

Group 1 - Mistral aims to compete globally in AI, developing models and data centers to rival US and Asian companies [1][2] - The company received significant investment from ASML, which acquired an 11% stake for $1.5 billion, marking a strategic partnership [3] - Mistral is valued at approximately $14 billion following this investment, highlighting its current position relative to competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI [3] Group 2 - Founded two years ago, Mistral is positioned as a key player in Europe's tech landscape, supported by French President Emmanuel Macron and a national AI plan worth €109 billion ($127 billion) [2][3] - ASML's monopoly on EUV lithography machines places it at the center of the AI semiconductor market, enhancing its partnership with Mistral [3] - Mistral has attracted a diverse range of investors, including Bpifrance, Lightspeed Ventures, Eric Schmidt, Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, and Microsoft [3]