Chips Meet Models: Why ASML Wants a Piece of Mistral
In September 2025, ASML and Mistral AI announced a landmark partnership that immediately grabbed headlines across the tech world. ASML – the Dutch firm whose machines are indispensable for manufacturing advanced chips – revealed it will lead Mistral’s latest funding round with a €1.3 billion investment, securing about 11% ownership in the startup Asml Reuters. The deal catapults Mistral’s valuation to €11.7 billion, making the two-year-old company the most valuable AI startup in Europe Reuters Reuters. This is more than just a cash infusion; ASML and Mistral inked a strategic collaboration agreement to work hand-in-hand over the long term Asml. It’s being hailed as a significant boost to Europe’s AI ambitions, uniting the continent’s foremost chipmaking player with one of its brightest AI prospects Reuters.