French artificial intelligence (AI) startup Mistral has successfully raised $830 million in fresh debt financing. The funds are earmarked for acquiring 13,800 NVIDIA chips, which will power a sprawling data center being constructed near Paris. This debt financing endeavor has garnered the support of a consortium comprising seven banks. The data center, situated in the town of Bruyeres-le-Chatel, is anticipated to commence operations in the second quarter of 2026. At present, Europe is vigorously ramping up its AI infrastructure in a bid to hold its own against the formidable AI capabilities of China and the United States.