Black Semiconductor, a deep tech company based in Aachen, Germany, has secured €254.4 million in a Series A funding round. This substantial investment is one of the largest for a European chip manufacturing firm.
The funding includes €228.7 million from the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, provided over the next seven years under the IPCEI ME/CT2 program. Additionally, Black Semiconductor has raised €25.7 million in equity funding from investors led by Porsche Ventures and Project A Ventures, with contributions from Scania Growth Capital, Capnamic, Tech Vision Fonds, NRW.BANK, and previous investors Vsquared Ventures, Cambium Capital, and Onsight Ventures.
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Advancing R&D and Manufacturing Capabilities
The new capital will accelerate Black Semiconductor’s research and development initiatives and establish pilot line manufacturing in Aachen. By 2026, the company plans to open a pilot manufacturing facility demonstrating the integration of graphene into electronic chips. The workforce is expected to grow from 30 to 120 employees by the same year.
Dr. Daniel Schall, co-founder and CEO, stated, “We deeply appreciate the robust support from the government and renowned investors to advance novel technologies in Europe. This investment allows us to push our product development and 300 mm wafer pilot production facility forward. As traditional chip technology nears its limits, our innovations pave the way for faster, more powerful, cost-efficient, and energy-efficient computation.”
Pioneering Graphene Chip Technology
Founded in 2020 by Dr. Daniel Schall and Sebastian Schall, Black Semiconductor is developing next-generation chip technology using graphene. These chips are expected to enhance data communication speed between chips, improve performance, increase energy efficiency, and significantly reduce manufacturing costs by 60% through fewer production steps.
Schall added, “Through the IPCEI program, we are committed to contributing to the semiconductor value chain in Europe. This investment and Europe’s ambitious funding for deep tech will inspire greater participation from startups and industry players.”
Investor Insights
Porsche Ventures focuses on areas like Car & Mobility, Intelligent Enterprise, Sustainability, and Beyond, and has built a diverse portfolio covering battery technology, energy transition, digital lifestyles, space-tech, enterprise AI, and more. Patrick Huke, Partner at Porsche Ventures, emphasized the strategic importance of their investment in Black Semiconductor, saying, “Our investment represents a great opportunity to harness photonics technology integrated into conventional chips for various industries and future AI applications. This combined public and private investment positions the Black Semiconductor team to build a strong semiconductor business in Europe, enhancing both domestic and European competitiveness.”
Project A Ventures, an early-stage tech investor with offices in Berlin and London, supports portfolio companies in software and product development, business intelligence, marketing, sales, and recruiting. Uwe Horstmann, co-founder and General Partner, noted, “Europe must focus on achieving independence in key enabling technologies to ensure economic stability amid geopolitical challenges. Black Semiconductor, with its exceptional team and substantial funding, can restore some technological sovereignty and become a key player in Europe.”
With this substantial investment, Black Semiconductor is set to drive significant advancements in semiconductor technology, contributing to Europe’s technological leadership and competitiveness.
