Vertical compute
/Vertical Compute, a new imec spin-off, raises €20 million to Revolutionize the Future of AI Computing

Press release

Vertical Compute, a new imec spin-off, raises €20 million to Revolutionize the Future of AI Computing

New Deep-tech Semiconductor Startup Tackling AI’s Compute Memory Bottleneck

 

About Sylvain Dubois and Sebastien Couet

Sylvain Dubois is a business executive with a strong experience in the deep tech ecosystem. He's been working in the compute and memory fields for 25 years. He knew the memory bottleneck problem well and investigated it when he worked for Google.

Sebastien Couet is a semiconductor R&D expert who has been working for 10 years + at imec - the world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies - to understand the memory roadmap and develop innovative solutions for the next decade.

About Vertical Compute

Vertical Compute (www.verticalcompute.com) is a European deep tech startup focused on developing a game-changing vertically integrated memory technology. Founded in 2024, the company aims to solve the memory bottleneck and to unlock the full potential of data-intensive applications. With a strong leadership team and a clear vision, Vertical Compute is set to revolutionize the future of computing.

About imec

Imec is a world-leading research and innovation center in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Imec leverages its state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure and its team of more than 5,500 employees and top researchers, for R&D in advanced semiconductor and system scaling, silicon photonics, artificial intelligence, beyond 5G communications and sensing technologies, and in application domains such as health and life sciences, mobility, industry 4.0, agrofood, smart cities, sustainable energy, education, … Imec unites world-industry leaders across the semiconductor value chain, Flanders-based and international tech, pharma, medical and ICT companies, start-ups, and academia and knowledge centers. Imec is headquartered in Leuven (Belgium), and has research sites across Belgium, in the Netherlands, the UK and the USA, and representation in 3 continents. In 2023, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 941 million euro.  Further information on imec can be found at www.imec-int.com.

About imec.xpand

Imec.xpand is one of the world’s largest independent venture capitalist dedicated to early-stage semiconductor innovation. The imec.xpand funds target ambitious deep tech startups where the knowledge, expertise and infrastructure of imec, the world-renowned semiconductor and nanotechnology R&D center, can play a determining role in their growth. Imec.xpand has an outspoken international mindset towards building disruptive global companies and strongly believes that sufficient funding from the start is key to future success. The team’s unique ability to assess technology risk in the earliest stages of development enables imec.xpand’s game-changing approach towards hardware driven semiconductor innovation. https://imecxpand.com.

About Eurazeo

Eurazeo is a leading European investment group with €35.5 billion in diversified assets under management, including €25.2 billion on behalf of institutional and retail clients through its private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure strategies. The Group supports more than 600 mid-market companies, leveraging the commitment of its 400-strong workforce, its in-depth sector expertise, its privileged access to global markets through 13 offices across Europe, Asia and the United States, and its responsible approach to value creation based on growth. The company's institutional and family shareholding structure, and its solid financial structure, ensure its long-term viability.
For more information, visit www.eurazeo.com

About XAnge

XAnge is an early-stage investment fund with €650 million under management, based in Paris and Berlin. Its investment team supports European entrepreneurs who aim to transform everyday life through technology, investing amounts ranging from €500,000 to €10 million starting at the seed stage. With an investment thesis focused on making technology accessible to the widest audience, XAnge invests in sectors such as deeptech, healthcare, fintech, SaaS, and e-commerce. XAnge has supported companies like Lydia (Finance), Welcome to the Jungle (Human Resources), Believe (Music), MrSpex (eCommerce), and Ledger (Cryptocurrency). XAnge is the innovation brand of the Siparex Group.
For more information, visit www.xange.vc