Brian Kitzmantel

Brian Kitzmantel inquired about the timing for the first three phases of the Freyr partnership, specifically asking if the April, September, and December schedule for phases one, two, and three, respectively, remains on track. He also asked about any gating factors beyond financing and whether other data center customers are awaiting Freyr's execution before committing. Finally, he asked about the recruiting market in key geographies and the need for senior AI HPC executive talent.

Answer

Jay Chandan, Chairman and CEO, confirmed that the Freyr partnership is on track with slight delivery delays, but the first GPUs are expected within days. He noted an acceleration in data center discussions, expanding from 12.5 MW to over 600 MW, with a controlled ramp-up. Chandan stated that the pipeline is 'exploding' with mature deals, and governments view AI as urgent, driving a shift to edge compute. Regarding recruitment, he detailed a rapid hiring pace using a hub-and-spoke model, with significant teams in Thailand, India, and Taiwan, and the addition of senior executives like Thomas as CTO of infrastructure and Jackie as GM for Asia, alongside strengthening finance and compliance.

Brian Kitzmantel asked about the timing for the first three phases of the FREYR partnership, specifically regarding project financing and any potential gating factors to starting these projects.

Answer

Jay Chandan, Chairman and CEO, confirmed they are on track with slight market-related delays, but the FREYR contract is on schedule, with the first GPUs deploying soon. He noted an acceleration in data center discussions, now targeting over 600MW capacity, and no significant delays for other projects like Thailand MoE, where approvals and permitting are ongoing. Brian Kitzmantel then asked if other data center customers were waiting for FREYR execution. Jay Chandan responded that the pipeline is 'exploding,' with deals maturing from POCs to late-stage commercial structuring, driven by the $1.4 billion Southeast Asia contract as a catalyst. He emphasized that governments view AI as an urgency, and Gorilla's extensive data center experience builds confidence. Finally, Brian Kitzmantel inquired about the recruiting market and the need for AI HPC senior executives. Jay Chandan detailed rapid hiring, including senior executives like Thomas (CTO of infrastructure) and Jackie (GM for Asia), and significant team growth in Thailand, India, and Taiwan through a hub-and-spoke model, alongside strengthening finance and compliance.