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§ Private Profile · Shanghai, China
MKSEMI is a technology company.
MKSEMI develops ultra-low power Ultra-Wideband (UWB) solutions, including the MK8000 System-on-Chip and UWB modules. These products provide high-precision location and direction-finding capabilities, offering accurate spatial awareness with minimal energy consumption. This core technology facilitates efficient wireless sensing, vital for advanced connected applications.
Mauna Kea Semiconductors was founded by Silicon Valley serial entrepreneurs with proven success in semiconductor product development. Their insight identified the critical need for highly power-efficient UWB technology, establishing the company to deliver precise, low-power spatial awareness for diverse devices.
MKSEMI’s UWB technology serves mobile, wearables, automotive, and IoT markets, where precise positioning is essential. The company envisions radio as a ubiquitous sensor, seamlessly connecting the world via accurate, energy-efficient spatial data. Its mission cultivates more intuitive, context-aware connected experiences.
MKSEMI has raised $25.8M across 2 funding rounds.
MKSEMI has raised $25.8M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MKSEMI has raised $25.8M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MKSEMI's investors include James Mi, Ivy Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, Gaorong Capital, Lightspeed China Partners.
MKSEMI has raised $25.8M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $12.8M Pre-Series A in January 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5, 2022 | $12.8M Seed Plus | James MI | IVY Capital, Qiming Venture Partners | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2022 | $13M Series A | — | Gaorong Capital, Lightspeed China Partners | Announced |
MKSEMI (Mauna Kea Semiconductors) is a semiconductor company founded in 2019 that develops ultra-wideband (UWB) system-on-chip products, including chips and modules, for high-precision location and direction-finding applications.[1][2][3][5] It serves OEMs and ODMs in smartphones, wearables, IoT devices, geotags, trackers, and automotive markets by solving integration challenges with its world's lowest-power UWB solutions in the 40nm technology range, covering the 3-9GHz spectrum for global compatibility and enabling battery life up to a year without maintenance.[2][3][4][5] With $12.8M in funding from investors like OPPO, Lightspeed Ventures, and MediaTek Ventures, and over 60 employees across offices in Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, MKSEMI demonstrates rapid growth in the high-performance, ultra-low-power design space.[1][2][4]
MKSEMI was founded in 2019 by serial Silicon Valley entrepreneur Dr. Yifeng Zhang, alongside experienced semiconductor veterans Mr. Vasanth Gaddam and Dr. Allen Li.[1][4] Drawing from 20 years of UWB expertise dating back to Philips Semiconductor's first-generation chipsets, the team identified pain points from prior customer engagements, such as difficulties integrating discrete UWB solutions into IoT devices.[1][4] This insight drove the creation of highly integrated, low-power chips, leading to early traction through a customer-engagement model that incorporates feedback to refine hardware and software, backed by tier-one investors and FiRa Consortium membership.[1][4]
MKSEMI rides the surging demand for precise spatial positioning in the expanding UWB ecosystem, fueled by FiRa Consortium standards and adoption in smartphones (e.g., Apple, Samsung), automotive keyless entry, and industrial IoT.[1][2][3] Timing is ideal amid market forces like 5G proliferation, edge AI, and contactless tracking needs post-pandemic, where UWB's centimeter-level accuracy trumps Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.[3][4][5] By enabling energy-efficient, globally compliant solutions, MKSEMI influences the ecosystem through OEM partnerships, accelerating UWB maturity and challenging incumbents with cost-effective alternatives.[4]
MKSEMI is poised for accelerated growth as UWB becomes standard in consumer electronics and smart cities, with its power efficiency and integration edge driving broader adoption in AR/VR, robotics, and asset tracking.[2][4][5] Trends like AI-enhanced positioning and regulatory pushes for spectrum access will shape its trajectory, potentially expanding via strategic OEM deals or acquisitions. Its influence could evolve from niche innovator to UWB market leader, amplifying the precision tech revolution that began with its founders' vision.[1][4]