Born At Denny’s: Jensen Huang’s Mega-Company Is Still Making Deals

InnovationAIBorn At Denny’s: Jensen Huang’s Mega-Company Is Still Making DealsByJohn Werner,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I am an MIT Senior Fellow & Lecturer, 5x-founder & VC investing in AIFollow AuthorJun 10, 2026, 03:51am EDT The first Denny's American Diner to open in the UK gettyIt’s the single largest tech stock by market cap on the American exchanges, in a sector that comprises a large part of the market as a whole. The chip maker Nvidia has surpassed giants Microsoft and Apple, and conquered the world, by offering AI-specific hardware.Not bad, for a company created at Denny’s. Yes, Jensen Huang, originally from Taipei, dreamed up the company over breakfasts at the iconic restaurant chain known for letting people hang out and drink coffee in its booths.It’s a real rags-to-riches story, almost, in some ways, like the story of the savior of the world being born in a lowly manger. Except there's more sausage and eggs involved. Now, Nvidia is making deals with prominent Korean firms like SK Hynix, Naver, SK Telecom, Doosan Group, and LG Group.“The partnerships focus on developing and securing critical memory technologies, expanding AI infrastructure, and supporting the buildout of AI ‘factories’ to serve the growing global demand for AI computation,” writes BV Swagath at GlobalData. “Nvidia and SK Hynix will work together to develop and ensure the supply of advanced memory products, supporting the former's AI infrastructure roadmap.”Going Back to Those Humble Beginnings“In 1993, three friends, Huang, Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, met at Denny’s to discuss creating a chip that would enable realistic 3D graphics on personal computers,” wrote Brian Caulfield for Nvidia’s blog in September of 2023, announcing Huang’s return to put a plaque in the spot where he first imagined his firm. “The Denny’s just off a busy thoroughfare in the heart of Silicon Valley was the perfect place to start...