Arkady Volozh, the visionary behind Yandex—often dubbed the “Google of Russia”—is charting a new course in the European tech landscape with his latest venture, Nebius. Following his departure from Yandex amid geopolitical tensions, Volozh is leveraging his expertise to establish Nebius as a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Europe.
In July 2024, Nebius emerged from the restructuring of Yandex’s international operations. The company, headquartered in Amsterdam, focuses on developing specialized cloud infrastructure to support large-scale AI models. With a team comprising over 1,300 employees—many of whom are former Yandex engineers—Nebius is poised to become a significant player in the AI sector.
Volozh’s transition from Yandex to Nebius was marked by significant developments. In June 2022, he resigned from his positions at Yandex following the imposition of sanctions. Subsequently, in March 2024, these sanctions were lifted, enabling Volozh to re-enter the tech arena with renewed vigor. The establishment of Nebius signifies his commitment to advancing AI technologies and infrastructure, free from the constraints of his previous affiliations.
Nebius has already made substantial strides in the AI domain. The company has secured significant investments, including a $700 million funding round with contributions from notable entities such as Nvidia and Accel. This financial backing underscores the confidence investors have in Nebius’s potential to meet the escalating demand for AI data centers and services.
A key component of Nebius’s strategy is its collaboration with Nvidia. The partnership is set to enhance Nebius’s computational capabilities, with plans to integrate Nvidia’s advanced GPUs into their infrastructure by next year. This move is anticipated to position Nebius at the forefront of AI service providers, offering robust solutions to meet the growing needs of AI-driven enterprises.
Volozh’s re-emergence in the tech industry through Nebius reflects his resilience and adaptability. By focusing on AI infrastructure, he is tapping into one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving sectors in technology. As Nebius expands its operations and capabilities, it is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI in Europe and beyond.
