Who's who · AI apps & SaaS
Scale AI
Supplies data to train and test AI models and builds AI applications; Meta owns 49%
At a glance
- Founded
- 2016
- Based in
- San Francisco, United States
- People
- Francis deSouza, Chief executive; Alexandr Wang, Founder and chairman
- Known for
- Data engine, Generative AI Platform
- Funding
- Private; Meta holds a 49% non-voting stake; valued at over $29 billion (June 2025)
- Employees
- 1,000+ (company figure)
- Largest shareholder
- Meta, 49% without voting rights
- Website
- https://scale.com
Scale AI provides the data used to train and evaluate AI models and builds AI applications for businesses and governments. Founded in 2016 by Alexandr Wang, it is based in San Francisco and has more than 1,000 employees. Its data engine supports model development at many frontier labs, and it builds and runs AI applications for customers ranging from large companies to the US Department of War.
In June 2025 Meta invested $14.3 billion in Scale for a 49% stake without voting power, in a deal that valued the company at more than $29 billion. As part of the deal Wang left to work on Meta's AI efforts; he remains chairman of Scale's board. Jason Droege, previously chief strategy officer, served as interim chief executive for the following year.
Scale's board appointed Francis deSouza as chief executive from 10 August 2026. He was previously chief operating officer of Google Cloud and before that chief executive of Illumina. The company says it is growing in both its data and applications businesses, with recent customers including BP and Mayo Clinic.
Sources
- Scale AI, Scale AI Appoints Francis deSouza as CEO to Lead Next Phase of Company's Growth, 2026-07-30
- Scale AI, Scale AI Announces Next Phase of Company's Evolution, 2025-06-12
- Scale AI, About Scale, 2026-10-02
- CNBC, Scale AI's Alexandr Wang confirms departure for Meta as part of $14.3 billion deal, 2025-06-12
Facts last checked 2026-10-02