NextGO Epi Secures 2 Million Euros in Funding

Just one week after the unveiling of the European Chips Act 2.0, the Berlin-based deep tech startup NextGO Epi has secured 2 million euros in pre-seed funding. The spin-off from the Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth (IKZ) develops and produces gallium oxide epitaxial wafers. This semiconductor material is considered a key technology for the next generation of power electronics.

The funding round is led by Vireo Ventures. Other participants include Ultratech Capital Partners, IBB Ventures, and business angel Boris Habets. NextGO Epi plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate product development, expand its team, and grow its international sales.

Europe’s only industrial production of gallium oxide wafers

According to the company, NextGO Epi is currently the only company in Europe producing industrial-grade gallium oxide epitaxial wafers up to four inches in size.

Gallium oxide is considered one of the most promising materials for future power semiconductors. Compared to materials widely used today, such as silicon carbide or gallium nitride, components made from gallium oxide can handle higher voltages, operate more efficiently, and are expected to be significantly less expensive to manufacture.

According to the company, this could, among other things, reduce charging times for electric vehicles from about one hour to roughly ten minutes, while cutting the production costs of power semiconductors by up to 75 percent.

Semiconductors for the Energy Transition and AI

The technology is used wherever large amounts of energy need to be efficiently managed—from fast-charging stations for electric vehicles to inverters for renewable energy, and on to power supplies for AI data centers and high-performance industrial systems.

With the new Chips Act 2.0, the European Union aims to reduce its dependence on Asian and American semiconductor suppliers. NextGO Epi is positioning itself as part of a European value chain for future key technologies.

From the Research Lab to the Market

NextGO Epi was founded by three semiconductor researchers with PhDs: Dr. Ta-Shun Chou, Dr. Andreas Popp, and Dr. Andreas Fiedler. Together, they have more than ten years of research experience in the field of gallium oxide, two international patents, and over 30 scientific publications. The company is also supported by Dr. Jochen Linck, the former COO of Aixtron, who is overseeing the industrial expansion as an operating partner.

NextGO Epi is already producing its wafers and supplying customers in Europe, Asia, and North America. Its partners include Foxconn, Gallox Semiconductor, the Ferdinand Braun Institute (FBH), and the Taiwanese research institute ITRI. With this funding, the Berlin-based startup aims to further expand its position as a European supplier of next-generation power semiconductors.