How to Become an NVIDIA Partner

The NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN) is NVIDIA’s ecosystem for companies that design, build, deliver, host, sell, or advise on NVIDIA technology. NVIDIA currently groups partners into four broad types: AI Infrastructure Partners, Cloud Partners, Influencer Partners, and Seller/Builder Partners (NVIDIA).

Inside those groups are more specific roles. The public list includes architecture and engineering firms, data center and power-and-cooling partners, cloud partners, ISVs, solution advisors, distributors, OEMs, solution providers, and system partners.

NVIDIA also publishes competencies including Compute, DGX AI Compute Systems, Embedded Compute, Networking, NVIDIA Enterprise Software, NVIDIA Technologies, and Visualization. Membership levels are Registered, Preferred, and Elite where a multi-level path applies; some partner types use a single Partner level instead. Invitation-only specializations sit alongside that structure.

“NVIDIA partner” is not one job. A company building its own systems, reselling finished solutions, operating a data center, delivering power and cooling, or developing software will enter through different partner types.

For example, NVIDIA describes a Distributor as a company authorized to distribute NVIDIA products to resellers, a Solution Provider as a value-added reseller or integrator selling to end customers, and a System Partner as a company that designs and manufactures systems containing NVIDIA technology. Those roles may work together, but they are not interchangeable.

Start with what your company actually delivers and who buys it. Choosing the wrong type makes every later question — competency, training, commercial terms, and purchasing path — harder to answer.

NVIDIA’s public NPN page confirms the partner types, competencies, membership levels, and invitation-only specializations. It says Registered partners invest in sales and technical training, Preferred partners work toward training, revenue, and other goals, and Elite represents the deepest level of commitment.

What the public overview does not provide is one application checklist covering every partner type and region. It does not publish a universal requirement for a resale certificate, D-U-N-S Number, trade references, certified headcount, membership fee, purchasing account, or allocation priority. Some of those may apply to a particular agreement or to a separate distributor onboarding, but they should not be presented as requirements for every NPN applicant.

Use the application and program agreement for your selected type as the source of truth. If you also need a distributor or purchasing relationship, verify that separately with the distributor serving your region and product line.

Begin on the official NVIDIA Partner Network page. Review the current partner types and choose the one that matches your business. From there, use NVIDIA’s NPN portal or the application path NVIDIA provides for that type and region.

Expect NVIDIA to evaluate the company against the selected role and competency, then present the applicable agreement, training, goals, and benefits. Read those current documents before committing staff or promising customers a particular status.

Do not confuse applying for NPN membership with creating a portal login. NVIDIA’s self-registration page says an organization must already be an NPN member before its users can self-register for portal access (NVIDIA). Registered is the entry level for some partner types; where only one level applies, NVIDIA calls the member simply Partner.