NextGO Epi Bets on Gallium Oxide for Fast Charging
The Berlin spin-off wants to cut EV charging times to about ten minutes with a new semiconductor material. © generated with AI
Berlin-based deep tech startup NextGO Epi has raised 2 million euros in pre-seed funding, according to a report on Startbase. The spin-off from the Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth develops gallium oxide epitaxial wafers, a semiconductor material seen as key for the next generation of power electronics. The round was led by Vireo Ventures, with Ultratech Capital Partners, IBB Ventures and business angel Boris Habets also joining in.
NextGO Epi plans to use the money to speed up product development, grow its team and expand sales abroad. The timing is notable. The funding lands just a week after the EU unveiled its Chips Act 2.0, aimed at cutting Europe's reliance on Asian and American semiconductor suppliers. NextGO Epi says it is currently the only company in Europe producing industrial grade gallium oxide wafers up to four inches in size.
Why does that matter? Compared to silicon carbide or gallium nitride, gallium oxide components can handle higher voltages, run more efficiently and cost significantly less to make.
"Gallium oxide is to power electronics what silicon was to computing — and Europe should own this value chain," says Dr. Ta-Shun Chou, CEO and co-founder of NextGO Epi. "We're building the material foundation that will enable the next energy revolution. And we're building it in Europe."
The company estimates the material could shrink EV charging times from around an hour to roughly ten minutes, while cutting power semiconductor production costs by up to 75 percent. Beyond EVs, the tech applies to inverters for renewable energy and power supplies for AI data centers.
NextGO Epi was founded by semiconductor researchers Dr. Ta-Shun Chou, Dr. Andreas Popp and Dr. Andreas Fiedler, who bring more than a decade of gallium oxide research between them. Former Aixtron COO Dr. Jochen Linck is on board as an operating partner overseeing industrial scale-up. The startup already supplies customers in Europe, Asia and North America, including Foxconn and the Ferdinand Braun Institute.
Thinking about launching a business, setting up premises, or creating partnerships in Berlin?
We invite you to contact us.
Our team is ready to help you with our free consultation services.