After years in Jensen Huang's orbit, these Nvidia veterans are building a startup community of their own - Business Insider

Following his departure from NVIDIA after nearly 16 years, Greg Estes has launched EverGreen, a community aimed at connecting former NVIDIA employees with emerging AI startups. Founded by several form... Read original →

The fragmentation of Jensen Huang’s ecosystem is spawning a new 'Whampoa' for AI hardware talent. Decentralized networks like EverGreen—led by NVIDIA veterans—are accelerating modularization in AI infrastructure, particularly in developer tools and robotics middleware, complementing rather than competing with CUDA. While this talent outflow boosts innovation density, it also triggers stricter CFIUS scrutiny on cross-border tech flows, forcing startups to embed compliance early and inflate operational costs. In response, AMD and Intel will likely intensify IP licensing or partner with foundries like TSMC to build alternative developer ecosystems, targeting founders excluded from NVIDIA’s alumni orbit. Over the next 18 months, these ex-employee collectives could evolve into informal standard-setting nodes—especially in EUV co-design and chiplet interconnect protocols—exerting influence beyond traditional VC and acting as stealth anchors in geopolitical tech alliances.