Millions of Americans use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot daily – for research, email writing, or even building a grocery list based on what’s in the fridge.
But have you ever stopped to wonder how those powerful AI chatbots are actually powered?
Meet TensorWave, a Las Vegas Tech Company Powering the Future of AI
“To put it simply, we are the picks and shovels of AI,” says Piotr Tomasik, Co-Founder and President of TensorWave.
Founded in Las Vegas in December 2023 by Tomasik, CEO Darrick Horton, and Chief Growth Officer Jeff Tatarchuck, TensorWave is building a versatile cloud platform designed to fuel the next generation of AI innovation.
“We build and operate specialized high-performance data centers equipped with advanced GPU clusters,” explains Tomasik. “This is the powerful computing hardware that makes modern AI possible.”
What sets TensorWave apart from its competition is its strategic use of AMD Instinct® Data Center GPUs – an alternative to the widely used NVIDIA chips. The team began exploring this approach in mid-2023, when global supply chain issues made NVIDIA hardware hard to access.
“We saw an opportunity,” says Tomasik. “People questioned how we could sell compute power as a new player in the market. But the key is to hyper-focus on deploying one specific thing rather than deploying lots of different services. The one specific thing we do is train and run AI at scale.”
Local Founder Bets Big on Vegas
Tomasik is deeply rooted in the Las Vegas tech scene. A graduate of UNLV’s College of Engineering, he is also a co-founder of Startup Vegas and Influential, an influencer marketing platform acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2024 for approximately $500 million.
While the regional startup community has matured significantly in the past 15 years, Tomasik believes Las Vegas still retains a uniquely supportive environment for entrepreneurs.
“Several years ago, a national article featured a map of notable tech companies by state,” he recalls. “Our company represented Nevada, while California had Uber and Utah had Qualtrics. In a smaller market, success stands out more – you’re not lost in the weeds.”
Beyond business advantages, Tomasik says Las Vegas offers a quality of life that’s hard to beat.
“If you want to be in a place where you can easily connect with your customers, this is it,” says Tomasik. “And for our team, it’s just a great place to live – the cost of living, the lack of traffic. Everything adds up.”
Record-Breaking Growth
TensorWave has experienced exponential growth in the short 17 months of its existence and recently raised a record-breaking $100 million in Series A funding to accelerate the deployment of their technology.
“This is a very cash intensive business,” says Tomasik. “Each GPU costs more than $20,000, and we have more than 8,000 already deployed. The funding will help us grow our data centers and invest in top-tier talent.”
To support its expansion, TensorWave worked closely with the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), receiving tax abatements from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).
“I’ve been excited to work with Piotr and the TensorWave leadership team as they grow their footprint in Southern Nevada,” said Heather Brown, Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development at LVGEA. “Their decision to invest and expand here reinforces Southern Nevada’s emergence as a hub for innovation and advanced technology. Companies like TensorWave are exactly the kind of high-growth, high-impact businesses that will help shape the future of our regional economy.”
Scaling Space and Talent
For now, the company operates from office space at Town Square but is preparing to move into a larger facility to accommodate its growing team – expected to more than double from 40 to over 100 employees.
TensorWave is hiring across a wide range of roles, from R&D and machine learning to recruiting, technical writing, and finance. Tomasik is confident the talent pool will rise to meet the challenge.
“The pipeline looks completely different than it did ten years ago,” he says. “At my last startup, convincing people to move here was a challenge. Now I’ve got grads straight out of Berkeley joining our team.”
As an alum of UNLV’s College of Engineering, Tomasik is also focused on cultivating the next generation of local tech leaders. He actively supports the university’s StartUp StepUp internship program, helping students launch careers in AI and software development.
“I have served on the computer science advisory board at UNLV for over six years,” he says. “I was always surprised by how many students thought they had to go to the Bay Area for opportunity. They had no idea companies like ours were hiring right here in town.”
Looking Ahead
With the global AI industry accelerating at breakneck speed, Tomasik believes TensorWave is on a similar path.
“Growth has exceeded expectations in every way,” he says. “We didn’t raise seed funding because we wanted to grow—we did it because we had to, just to meet demand.”
Still, he remains focused on the present.
“If I tried to predict where we’ll be in five years, I’d probably be way off,” Tomasik says with a smile. “We’re just taking it one day at a time.”
To learn more about how LVGEA can help you locate or grow your business in the Las Vegas region, connect with our Business Development team.
