Alice Huang, the Chinese businesswoman whose business connections have come under scrutiny following reports about her relationship with former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, reportedly held an indirect ownership interest in a Chinese data centre serving Huawei Cloud. The connection was identified through corporate records examined by private intelligence firm Tesari and reviewed by CNBC. The findings add another dimension to questions surrounding Alice Huang’s business network and its links to companies operating in China’s artificial intelligence and cloud computing industries.
According to the investigation, Alice Huang was connected to Shanghai Hexi, an investment firm that acquired a 27% stake in data-centre developer Shanghai Century Longteng in 2021. That company controlled 50.1% of Shenzhen Yifeng Technology, a data-centre operator whose key customer was Huawei Cloud. Hexi also guaranteed loans used to finance the Shenzhen facility. However, the investigation did not establish whether the data centre itself acquired Nvidia graphics processors or whether any unauthorised transfer of controlled technology took place.
How Alice Huang’s Business Network Connects to Huawei
The reported connection runs through several Chinese companies rather than a direct business agreement between Alice Huang and Huawei.
CNBC’s investigation, based on corporate records and research provided by Tesari, traced the relationship through Shanghai Hexi Investment Management.
Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, became a co-owner of Hexi as early as 2016. The investment firm subsequently expanded its interests in technology businesses and data-centre infrastructure.
In 2021, Hexi acquired a 27% stake in Shanghai Century Longteng, a company involved in developing data-centre infrastructure.
Century Longteng, in turn, held a 50.1% controlling stake in Shenzhen Yifeng Technology. The Shenzhen company operated a data-centre facility whose key customer was Huawei Cloud, according to the investigation.
Hexi also guaranteed loans that financed the Shenzhen facility.
This ownership structure gave Alice Huang an indirect business interest in a company connected to Huawei’s cloud computing operations.
Corporate Ownership Chain
| Company | Role in the reported business network |
|---|---|
| Shanghai Hexi | Investment firm co-owned by Alice Huang |
| Shanghai Century Longteng | Data-centre developer in which Hexi acquired a 27% stake |
| Shenzhen Yifeng Technology | Data-centre operator controlled 50.1% by Century Longteng |
| Huawei Cloud | Reported key customer of the Shenzhen data-centre operator |
| Zhejiang Century Huatong Group | Other major shareholder of Century Longteng |
The structure is significant because Huawei is one of Nvidia’s major competitors in artificial intelligence chips, processors and networking equipment.
However, an indirect investment in a data-centre business serving Huawei does not by itself establish that Alice Huang directly conducted business with Huawei or participated in any technology transfer.
Hexi Exited the Data-Centre Investment in 2024
The investigation also identified changes in the ownership structure over time.
Hexi exited its investment in Shanghai Century Longteng in 2024, ending its reported 27% shareholding in the data-centre developer.
However, connections involving individuals associated with the investment continued to attract attention.
Alice Huang’s husband, Kang Wei, founded Shanghai Hexi and became an executive at Century Longteng in 2022, according to the corporate records examined by CNBC.
He also reportedly attended the signing of Century Longteng’s agreement with Huawei.
These connections provide additional context about the business relationships surrounding the data-centre investment. They do not, on their own, establish that Alice Huang or her associates were involved in unlawful technology transfers.
Did the Huawei-Linked Data Centre Use Nvidia Chips?
One of the central questions raised by the investigation concerns whether the Shenzhen data centre acquired Nvidia graphics processing units.
The CNBC investigation did not establish that the facility purchased Nvidia chips.
However, it identified another company connected to the data-centre developer that had begun purchasing Nvidia processors.
Zhejiang Century Huatong Group, another shareholder of Shanghai Century Longteng, started purchasing Nvidia chips in 2023, according to the report.
This detail has attracted attention because US export controls restrict the sale of certain advanced semiconductor products to China.
The restrictions are intended to limit China’s access to computing technology that could have military or strategic applications.
Nevertheless, the purchase of Nvidia chips by a company associated with the wider corporate network does not prove that those processors were transferred to Huawei or used by the Shenzhen facility.
Establishing whether any export-control violation occurred would require evidence about the specific hardware, buyers, destinations, end users and applicable export authorisations.
Megaspeed Adds Another Dimension to the Nvidia Investigation
The Huawei connection comes amid separate scrutiny of Alice Huang’s reported business links to Megaspeed International, a Singapore-based cloud computing company identified by Nvidia as one of its cloud partners.
CNBC traced Megaspeed’s origins to a cloud business called Osmanthus, which Alice Huang reportedly sold to Chinese gaming company 7Road in 2019.
A Singapore subsidiary associated with the 7Road group was subsequently spun off as Megaspeed in 2023.
Nvidia has identified Megaspeed as a cloud partner. The company has also attracted scrutiny over allegations that its business network helped facilitate shipments of Nvidia processors to Chinese customers.
The Information reported that Megaspeed helped facilitate at least $7.5 billion in Nvidia chip shipments to Chinese companies.
That allegation is separate from the Huawei-linked data-centre ownership structure. It does not establish that the Shenzhen facility received Nvidia processors or that the two business networks were involved in the same transactions.
The allegations have increased attention on the relationships between Nvidia’s cloud partners, overseas intermediaries and Chinese technology companies.
Why Huawei’s Connection Matters to Nvidia
Huawei is an important competitor in China’s artificial intelligence infrastructure market.
The company develops AI processors, networking equipment, cloud services and other technologies designed to support computing workloads.
Nvidia identified Huawei as a competitor in AI chips, processors and networking equipment in a 2024 regulatory filing.
The competition is particularly relevant because US restrictions have limited the availability of certain advanced Nvidia processors in China.
Chinese technology companies have therefore been investing in domestic semiconductor alternatives and developing their own computing infrastructure.
Huawei has expanded its AI chip portfolio and cloud services as part of this effort.
Any established business connection involving Nvidia-related companies and Huawei-linked infrastructure can therefore attract regulatory attention, particularly where controlled semiconductor products are involved.
However, commercial links with a company operating in the same technology ecosystem do not automatically indicate an export-control violation.
US Authorities Have Not Reached a Conclusion on Espionage Allegations
The latest findings come amid broader scrutiny of Alice Huang’s reported relationship with Jensen Huang and her business connections.
The New York Times previously reported allegations, based on people briefed on US intelligence, that Alice Huang had links to Chinese intelligence activities. Those allegations have not been publicly established as proven facts.
On November 12, 2026, US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department had not reached a conclusion on whether Alice Huang was a Chinese spy.
Singapore also said its investigation into her role at Megaspeed did not concern espionage.
Nvidia’s board has separately opened an investigation into allegations involving Jensen Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang and the potential implications for the company.
Jensen Huang resigned as Nvidia’s president and CEO on November 12, 2026, with CFO Colette Kress appointed interim CEO.
The company has said it has no reason to believe sensitive company information or national security information was compromised.
These developments remain distinct issues: the reported Huawei-linked business investment, allegations concerning Nvidia chip shipments and claims about possible intelligence connections should not be treated as proof of one another.
The Bigger Picture
The reported Huawei connection highlights the complexity of business relationships across China’s technology, cloud computing and semiconductor industries. Corporate ownership structures can involve multiple investment firms, data-centre developers, operators and service customers. Understanding these relationships is important for assessing potential conflicts of interest and export-control risks, particularly when companies connected to advanced computing infrastructure also have links to Nvidia’s commercial ecosystem.
For Nvidia, the scrutiny extends beyond its products and sales relationships to the broader network of companies involved in cloud computing and semiconductor distribution. However, the available reporting does not establish that the Huawei-linked data centre acquired Nvidia chips or that Alice Huang violated export-control laws. The distinction between documented corporate relationships and allegations of wrongdoing remains central to understanding the investigation.
Looking Ahead
The next stage will depend on whether investigators establish any connection between the reported business network, Nvidia hardware shipments and transactions involving restricted Chinese customers. Corporate records may identify ownership relationships, but determining whether export-control rules were violated requires evidence of actual equipment transfers, end users and authorisations. The companies involved have not publicly established that the Shenzhen data centre received Nvidia processors.
For Nvidia, the findings add another layer to an already sensitive period involving leadership changes, regulatory scrutiny and questions about its business relationships in China. The investigation will be closely watched by semiconductor companies, investors and policymakers because it touches on the intersection of global technology supply chains, AI infrastructure and US export restrictions. Until further evidence emerges, the Huawei connection should be understood as a reported indirect business link rather than proof of illegal activity.
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