QuantumDiamonds raises €91m for chip inspection equipment
German startup QuantumDiamonds has secured €91 million in funding to develop and scale its semiconductor inspection technology, aiming to improve chip manufacturing yields.
Munich-based startup QuantumDiamonds has raised €91 million, comprising €15 million in equity and €76 million in non-dilutive funding, to advance its semiconductor inspection equipment.
The equity round was led by World Fund, with participation from Bayern Kapital, IQ Capital, Earlybird, First Momentum, UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators, Creator Fund, and Onsight Ventures. The non-dilutive funding comes from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Free State of Bavaria.
Traditional inspection tools face challenges detecting buried defects in complex 3D chip architectures, impacting production yields and increasing costs. Industry analysis suggests that even a one percentage point improvement in yield can translate to millions of dollars weekly for high-volume manufacturers.
QuantumDiamonds, a spin-out from the Technical University of Munich, has developed a quantum-based microscope technology that non-destructively analyzes advanced chips to detect hidden defects. The company already collaborates with nine of the world's top ten semiconductor manufacturers and is establishing a new production facility.
"This is a major step in bringing quantum sensing into fabs worldwide," stated CEO Kevin Berghoff. "The response from leading chipmakers has been clear; they see our technology as essential for solving yield challenges that today's systems cannot address."