Former Databricks head of artificial intelligence, Naveen Rao, has launched a new startup, Unconventional, Inc., and is reportedly raising $1 billion at a $5 billion valuation to build a next-generation computer designed for “brain-scale efficiency.” Venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed, and Lux Capital are said to be backing the round, alongside Databricks, where Rao previously led AI development.
In a post on X, Rao described Unconventional’s mission as “rethinking the foundations of a computer to build a new substrate for intelligence that is as efficient as biology.” Sources say he has already secured several hundred million dollars in initial funding and plans to raise the remainder through a tranched funding approach, enabling the company to begin building immediately.
The startup is positioned to compete directly with Nvidia by developing custom silicon chips and AI server infrastructure, aimed at improving the efficiency and scalability of artificial intelligence systems. Rao’s ambition is to replicate the power and efficiency of the human brain in computing — without the biological constraints.
Rao’s entrepreneurial history underscores his credibility in AI innovation. He previously founded MosaicML, acquired by Databricks in 2023 for $1.3 billion, and Nervana Systems, bought by Intel in 2016 for more than $400 million. With Unconventional, Rao is once again pushing the boundaries of AI hardware design and computation efficiency