Helix Launches with US$10bn Backing for AI Infrastructure

Global investment firm KKR has launched Helix Digital Infrastructure (Helix), a new data centre platform backed by more than US$10bn in committed capital, underscoring the scale of financial investment required to support AI-driven infrastructure demand. 

The venture is designed to accelerate deployment of data centres, energy capacity and connectivity, positioning itself at the intersection of private equity, energy markets and hyperscale computing.

Helix is supported by a consortium of institutional and strategic investors, including the Kuwait Investment Authority, NVIDIA and integrated power producer Vistra. The appointment of former AWS CEO Adam Selipsky signals a leadership strategy rooted in scaling capital-intensive infrastructure platforms.

“In my 15 years helping build a US$100bn revenue business and scale cloud infrastructure with Amazon Web Services (AWS), I saw firsthand what happens when demand for compute outpaces the physical infrastructure behind it,” says Adam Selipsky, CEO of Helix.

Financing hyperscale bottlenecks

The venture targets a core financial challenge in the AI economy: the fragmented funding and development of real estate, power and connectivity. 

Traditionally financed and procured separately, these components create inefficiencies in capital deployment and delay returns on investment. Helix aims to consolidate these elements.

Reflecting on this structural issue, Adam notes: “Data centres, power and connectivity have all too often been built on separate tracks. In the unprecedented infrastructure build-out of the AI era, that fragmentation has become an industry-wide bottleneck. 

“This is slowing down the benefits of AI for enterprises, start-ups, governments, non-profits and citizens worldwide.”

KKR is anchoring the platform through its balance sheet alongside its managed investment vehicles, leveraging a broader digital infrastructure portfolio exceeding US$70bn across power and data assets. 

Following initial capital commitments, Helix remains open to additional institutional investors, signalling potential for further capital raises.

Energy as a capital constraint

Power availability is emerging as the primary limiting factor on data centre expansion, reshaping investment priorities across the sector. Vistra enters the partnership as the preferred energy provider, contributing both existing generation assets and development capabilities across 18 US states and Washington, D.C.

“Power generation and grid interconnections are critical gating factors for AI infrastructure deployments," says Jim Burke, President and CEO of Vistra.

"Helix brings together data centre development, infrastructure and power capabilities under a single umbrella, providing a one-stop shop for large load customers.

“By utilising Vistra’s existing fleet to deliver near-term power, Helix will accelerate delivery of power solutions through the use of existing assets while also bringing additionality with Vistra’s best-in-class capabilities, including power generation development and power grid expertise.

“Vistra has a proven track record in executing more than 5,000 megawatts of power purchase agreements with hyperscalers and looks forward to leveraging our leading and diverse generation fleet and operational expertise as Helix’s preferred power partner to help deliver the reliable, affordable energy these customers require.”

Aligning technology with capital efficiency

NVIDIA’s role as a strategic partner reflects the growing importance of optimising return on infrastructure investment. Its DSX platform is expected to enhance performance metrics such as tokens per watt and reduce total cost of ownership, aligning technical output with financial efficiency.

“Useful AI has arrived, and demand for AI factories is extraordinary,” says Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA.

"AI is driving the largest infrastructure buildout in modern history.

“With the NVIDIA DSX platform and the Helix strategic partnership, we are bringing together a proven AI factory blueprint, world-class infrastructure expertise from KKR, and long-term capital to help AI cloud providers build the next generation of intelligence infrastructure.”

The involvement of the Kuwait Investment Authority highlights sovereign wealth interest in AI infrastructure as a long-duration asset class.

Established in 1953, the fund manages both the General Reserve and Future Generations Fund, positioning Helix within a broader strategy of intergenerational capital allocation.

“We view AI infrastructure as one of the defining long-term investment opportunities globally, and Helix is purpose-built to address it,” says Sheikh Saoud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah, Managing Director of the Kuwait Investment Authority.

“Helix reflects a differentiated model that combines proven leadership, integrated capabilities and long-term capital required to deliver the next generation of critical digital infrastructure at scale.”

Execution and investment strategy

KKR’s Global Head of Digital Infrastructure, Waldemar Szlezak, will serve as Chief Investment Officer, overseeing capital deployment across power generation, transmission and fibre networks. 

The integrated investment approach aims to create a scalable, repeatable model for infrastructure expansion, reducing execution risk and accelerating time to revenue.

“Large users of digital infrastructure have an urgent need to reduce complexity and unlock new capacity. Helix combines significant long-term capital with the capabilities and expertise to deliver holistic AI infrastructure solutions with speed and scale,” says Adam.

“Helix is further strengthened by strategic partnerships with NVIDIA and Vistra across technology and power, which we believe will enable the company to deliver the infrastructure that will underpin hyperscalers’ AI strategies for years to come.”