Mahdi Yahya's London-based AI infrastructure company Ori Industries has merged with Radiant, a new AI unit under Brookfield Asset Management. The deal values the combined entity at $1.3 billion, marking a major exit for Yahya who founded the company "before AI was sexy." Yahya pitched to hundreds of investors over eight years before this significant consolidation in the AI infrastructure space.

Born in Lebanon, Yahya fled to London in 2006 after war broke out in his homeland. He taught himself coding as a teenager and founded his first company at 20. His background in theatre school proved valuable, teaching him "business and how to sell" and understanding people—skills crucial for navigating the competitive AI landscape and securing multiple investment offers before choosing Brookfield.

Before the merger, Ori Industries had raised approximately $180 million in equity and debt. Yahya believes the Brookfield platform provides the best opportunity to scale as AI demand "constantly accelerates." The deal caps a whirlwind journey for the founder who once slept on a freezer to pay staff, highlighting the sacrifices and perseverance required to build a valuable tech company in today's competitive market.