Black Semiconductor is a technology company.
Black Semiconductor has raised $28.0M across 1 funding round.
Black Semiconductor has raised $28.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Black Semiconductor has raised $28.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Black Semiconductor's investors include btov Partners, Converge Venture Partners, Metaplanet, Project A Ventures, Reiner Mauch.
Black Semiconductor is a deep tech company pioneering next-generation chip technology by integrating graphene-based photonics with electronics on the same wafer. Their product enables ultra-fast, energy-efficient chip connectivity that overcomes current bandwidth, heat, and latency limitations in microchips. Serving industries such as data centers, AI, autonomous driving, and high-performance computing, Black Semiconductor addresses the critical problem of scaling chip communication speed and efficiency beyond the physical limits of traditional electronic interconnects. The company has demonstrated strong growth momentum, securing over €250 million in funding, including a €228.7 million EU grant, and is advancing pilot production facilities to scale their innovative wafer fabrication technology[1][2][4][5][6].
Founded in 2020 by brothers Dr. Daniel Schall (CEO) and Sebastian Schall (CFO), Black Semiconductor originated as a spin-off from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. The founders combined their expertise to develop a breakthrough approach that integrates graphene photonics directly onto chips, inspired by the need to overcome the bottlenecks of electrical interconnects in semiconductor devices. Early pivotal moments include securing significant venture capital and public funding, acquiring Applied Nanolayers to bring graphene production in-house, and initiating construction of FabONE, a dedicated fabrication facility for graphene-based optical chip technology[1][2][3][5].
Black Semiconductor rides the critical trend of overcoming the physical and architectural limits of traditional semiconductor scaling, particularly the bottleneck in chip-to-chip communication. As data volumes explode with AI, cloud computing, and autonomous systems, their graphene photonics technology addresses the urgent need for faster, cooler, and more energy-efficient data transfer within and between chips. The timing is crucial given the global semiconductor supply chain challenges and Europe's strategic push for technological sovereignty. By enabling integrated photonics at scale, Black Semiconductor is poised to influence the future architecture of microchips and the broader semiconductor ecosystem, supporting next-generation applications in AI, IoT, quantum computing, and more[1][3][4][6].
Looking ahead, Black Semiconductor aims to transition from pilot production to commercial volume manufacturing by around 2031, scaling their graphene photonics technology to mainstream chip markets. The company’s trajectory will be shaped by trends in AI demand, data center expansion, and the increasing importance of energy-efficient computing. Their influence is likely to grow as integrated photonics becomes a standard in chip design, potentially reshaping the semiconductor industry’s approach to connectivity and performance. Continued investment in fabrication capabilities and strategic partnerships with major European chip manufacturers will be critical to their success, positioning Black Semiconductor as a cornerstone of Europe’s semiconductor innovation landscape[2][5].
In sum, Black Semiconductor is redefining chip connectivity through graphene-enabled photonics, addressing fundamental industry challenges and aligning with broader technological and geopolitical shifts, making it a standout innovator in the semiconductor field.
Black Semiconductor has raised $28.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $28.0M Series A in June 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2024 | $28.0M Series A | btov Partners, Converge Venture Partners, Metaplanet, Project A Ventures, Reiner Mauch |