B3IQ Launches Rent-to-Own GPU Service for University Researchers
B3IQ launched a rent-to-own GPU hardware service for university researchers to provide predictable costs and high privacy standards for AI compute.
B3IQ, a New York-based startup, has launched a rent-to-own GPU hardware service specifically for university researchers. The program allows customers to secure high-end machines, such as Nvidia H200 rigs, by paying a 30% down payment and spreading the remaining costs over five years. This financial model is designed to help academics avoid the price volatility of hourly compute services while maintaining the high privacy standards required by health-related laws like HIPAA.
Founded by former Coinbase employees Daryl Xu, Viktoriya Hying, and Sean Geng, the company pivoted from a gaming focus in early 2025 to AI compute to meet surging demand. B3IQ currently operates a 27,000-square-foot data center in Oregon and provides services to researchers at Stanford, Dartmouth, and New York University.
The startup has raised $21 million from investors, including Pantera Capital and Coinbase Ventures. B3IQ expects to generate $50 million in revenue this year.
