Chayora: The founders of Chayora introduce a digital infrastructure investment

The co-founders of China-focused data center developer Chayora have established Accelerated Infrastructure Capital (AIC), a new investment platform. Oliver Jones and Jonathan Berney established AIC to invest in and offer access to venture capital for digital infrastructure programs in second and third-tier sectors, including South and Central America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

Jones and Berney will not leave Chayora entirely. The managing partners will keep advising the organization on its China-based data center initiatives, whereas AIC will concentrate on other endeavors. The new company plans to invest globally in local expert management teams through direct board participation.

Chayora appointed James Wei as its new CEO in April 2023. It is now understood that Jones and Berney's decision to step down from their full-time positions was motivated by their work on AIC. In 2019, Actis paid $180 million for a majority stake in Chayora, while EdgeConneX acquired a minority stake in December 2021.