EQTY Lab Launches Node 1 with Lucky Storage in Reidsville, NC

As artificial intelligence reshapes modern society, its impact isn't limited to Silicon Valley campuses or urban tech hubs. In Reidsville, North Carolina – a town whose motto "Live Simply, Think Big" captures both its humility and ambition – a former tobacco factory is becoming an unlikely beacon for responsible AI innovation.

The transformation of the Lucky Strike Factory into a cutting-edge AI compute facility represents more than industrial renewal; it symbolizes how small communities can responsibly harness transformative technologies that will define our future. EQTY Lab has chosen this historic site for its first Verifiable Compute node, writing a new chapter in a building that once stood at the center of another industrial age.

“We're thrilled to see the Lucky Strike Facility serve as a launchpad for new AI startups. With EQTY Lab's Verifiable Compute node, this facility could become a destination for more startups to experiment and innovate here in North Carolina.”Tuan Ho, founding partner of Lucky Storage, a blockchain based project at LSF

The Challenge of Compute 

As AI development accelerates, the demand for computing infrastructure has created unprecedented pressure on data centers. With utilities needing to invest an estimated $50 billion in new infrastructure, companies are scrambling to secure suitable locations across the country. A 2024 McKinsey Report points to North Carolina as an emerging market previously overlooked for data center expansion. This capital-intensive challenge has created an unexpected opportunity for former industrial sites like Lucky Strike, which already have access to robust power transmission systems.

As companies now spend more on compute than on people, AI startups desperately need flexible computing solutions. Traditional public clouds, with their rigid contracts and limited GPU access, often can't meet the bespoke research needs of emerging AI companies. A new type of data center is needed, one that can provide both cutting-edge hardware and flexible terms for innovation.

A New Chapter for Lucky Strike 

In May 2022, Ascendency Ventures purchased the former Commonwealth Tobacco Company building with a vision of transforming this community cornerstone into a hub for e-commerce, logistics, and technology. The $8.5 million investment has already created over 50 jobs, with another 50 projected – bringing new opportunities to a region that saw manufacturing jobs disappear with the tobacco industry's decline.

The facility's evolution from tobacco production to technology infrastructure carries particular significance. Where once stood an industry that grew unchecked for decades, now rises a commitment to responsible innovation through EQTY's Verifiable Compute technology – ensuring transparency and accountability in AI development from day one.

“We're proud to host our first Verifiable Compute node here in Reidsville, for we believe that AI should be for all. AI promises to redefine every town big and small, and there is no reason why the world’s most advanced AI solution cannot be here. We need to redefine our expectations.”Jonathan Dotan, founder of EQTY Lab

Building a Sustainable Future 

The project offers a template for how communities can participate in the AI revolution while creating sustainable local opportunities. Datacenter technicians earn an average of $72,000 annually (link), and the sector has seen job growth of 17% from 2017 to 2021 – far outpacing the 2% overall U.S. employment growth during the same period (link).

Similar to its approach with ClimateGPT, EQTY Lab continues to prioritize innovative and sustainable infrastructure projects for launching new products. The Lucky Strike Data Facility represents the physical manifestation of this philosophy – where responsible innovation meets community revival.

“It's not about rapid growth. It's a new story of responsible innovation that starts here at home.”Coren Seglem, CEO of LSF

For a town that helped power America's industrial past, Reidsville is now positioning itself at the forefront of its technological future – proving that sometimes the best way to think big is to start local.