Chayora’s co-founders have taken a step back from the China-focused data center developer to create a new investment platform: Accelerated Infrastructure Capital (AIC).
Oliver Jones and Jonathan Berney created AIC to provide investment and access to venture funding for digital infrastructure programs in second and third-tier markets, including Central and South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe.
Jones and Berney are not completely leaving Chayora. The managing partners will continue to advise the company on its China-based data center efforts, while AIC will focus elsewhere.
The new company intends to provide investment worldwide for local expert management teams via direct board involvement.
“AIC is also working with significant private investors seeking off-market prospects in response to customer demand where AIC has evaluated and recommended projects ready to receive capital for rapid, risk-optimized deployment,” the company said.
In April 2023, Chayora appointed a new CEO, James Wei. The announcement coincided with Jones and Berney’s decision to step back from full-time roles, now understood to be motivated by their work on AIC.
Investor Actis acquired a majority stake in Chayora for $180 million in 2019, while EdgeConneX took a minority stake in December 2021.
