Qualcomm acquires AI software startup Modular for $3.9 billion
Key takeaways
- Equity holders of Modular will receive up to 19.2 million newly issued Qualcomm common shares through a private placement, according to the company.
- Modular builds software that allows AI models to run across different hardware architectures — including chips from multiple vendors — without requiring developers to rewrite code for each processor.
- Qualcomm said the acquisition is intended to deepen its software capabilities for data center AI, supporting inference, orchestration, and deployment across distributed systems.
Qualcomm acquires AI software startup Modular for $3.9 billion Quartz · JHVEPhoto / Getty Images Cris Tolomia Wed, June 24, 2026 at 8:10 PM GMT+7 2 min read QCOM Qualcomm agreed to acquire AI software startup Modular in an all-stock deal valued at $3.92 billion, the semiconductor company said Wednesday, as it works to expand beyond smartphone chips into data center and edge AI markets.
Equity holders of Modular will receive up to 19.2 million newly issued Qualcomm common shares through a private placement, according to the company. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Modular builds software that allows AI models to run across different hardware architectures — including chips from multiple vendors — without requiring developers to rewrite code for each processor. The platform supports CPU, GPU, NPU, and custom chip architectures, the company said.