1
Country: USA | Funding: $2.8B
Cerebras is building Wafer-Scale Engine (WSE) – the largest chip ever built for deep learning systems. The chip has a size of a silicon wafer, with a very large number of transistors and cores. Most of the memory on the chip is SRAM, with no or minimal (compared to SambaNova) external memory such as DRAM / HBM. This creates certain limitations in terms of flexibility of use and scaling of models, especially when the model is very large. But it has a very high bandwidth of the internal bus that enables super-fast data transfer between components inside one large plate. Each Cerebras system uses several such chips and requires significant cooling capacity. The WSE-chip powers the Cerebras CS-X - the AI supercomputer that enables less networking and a smaller footprint than a GPU-based cluster, and eliminate programming complexity by interacting with a single logical device at every scale. Cerebras also provides cloud learning/inference service for LLM companies like OpenAI.
Cerebras is building Wafer-Scale Engine (WSE) – the largest chip ever built for deep learning systems. The chip has a size of a silicon wafer, with a very large number of transistors and cores. Most of the memory on the chip is SRAM, with no or minimal (compared to SambaNova) external memory such as DRAM / HBM. This creates certain limitations in terms of flexibility of use and scaling of models, especially when the model is very large. But it has a very high bandwidth of the internal bus that enables super-fast data transfer between components inside one large plate. Each Cerebras system uses several such chips and requires significant cooling capacity. The WSE-chip powers the Cerebras CS-X - the AI supercomputer that enables less networking and a smaller footprint than a GPU-based cluster, and eliminate programming complexity by interacting with a single logical device at every scale. Cerebras also provides cloud learning/inference service for LLM companies like OpenAI.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $1.8B
Groq creates hardware AI accelerators for large language models that improve performance and reduce power consumption compared to classic GPU accelerators. It produces a Language Processing Unit (LPU) chip that uses exclusively on-chip SRAM memory (without external DRAM/HBM modules), which requires installing multiple chips for scalable payloads. Its architecture minimizes elements associated with unpredictable behavior (branch prediction, caches, etc.). Groq enables best performance for small and medium batch/task sizes, especially if the model fits into their configuration. The software-defined, single-core architecture removes traditional software complexity while continuous, token-based execution delivers consistent performance without tradeoffs. Groq licenses its technology to NVidia. The company also provides its cloud AI inference platform built for developers - available in public, private, or co-cloud instances.
Groq creates hardware AI accelerators for large language models that improve performance and reduce power consumption compared to classic GPU accelerators. It produces a Language Processing Unit (LPU) chip that uses exclusively on-chip SRAM memory (without external DRAM/HBM modules), which requires installing multiple chips for scalable payloads. Its architecture minimizes elements associated with unpredictable behavior (branch prediction, caches, etc.). Groq enables best performance for small and medium batch/task sizes, especially if the model fits into their configuration. The software-defined, single-core architecture removes traditional software complexity while continuous, token-based execution delivers consistent performance without tradeoffs. Groq licenses its technology to NVidia. The company also provides its cloud AI inference platform built for developers - available in public, private, or co-cloud instances.
3
Country: USA | Funding: $1.1B
SambaNova Systems produces chips based on the Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit architecture, which allows more flexible distribution of computations and memory, adaptation to different types of models. This architecture supports the "composition of experts" mechanism - when several specialized models work on certain parts of the data/tasks. The chip has multi-level memory and is optimized for large open models - Llama, DeepSeek, etc. It uses low-precision formats to accelerate computations and strives to achieve an optimal ratio of performance / throughput per watt, that's why RDU is very energy efficient and enables more compact hardware infrastructure. The company offers a full-featured stack: not just hardware, but also a software platform, a cloud service and the ability to deploy an on-premises system. SambaNova Systems is focused on open technologies and standards.
SambaNova Systems produces chips based on the Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit architecture, which allows more flexible distribution of computations and memory, adaptation to different types of models. This architecture supports the "composition of experts" mechanism - when several specialized models work on certain parts of the data/tasks. The chip has multi-level memory and is optimized for large open models - Llama, DeepSeek, etc. It uses low-precision formats to accelerate computations and strives to achieve an optimal ratio of performance / throughput per watt, that's why RDU is very energy efficient and enables more compact hardware infrastructure. The company offers a full-featured stack: not just hardware, but also a software platform, a cloud service and the ability to deploy an on-premises system. SambaNova Systems is focused on open technologies and standards.
4
Country: Canada | Funding: $1B
Tenstorrent develops AI processors Tensix that feature precision, anchored in RISC-V’s open architecture, delivering specialized, silicon-proven solutions for both AI training and inference. Basing on these processors, the company also manufactures PCI boards for desktop computers, desktop workstations and servers for corporations and research institutes. They provide superior performance per dollar for developers who need to run, test and develop AI models, as well as port and develop libraries for high-performance computing (HPC). The company also offers own cloud service where these servers can be rented.
Tenstorrent develops AI processors Tensix that feature precision, anchored in RISC-V’s open architecture, delivering specialized, silicon-proven solutions for both AI training and inference. Basing on these processors, the company also manufactures PCI boards for desktop computers, desktop workstations and servers for corporations and research institutes. They provide superior performance per dollar for developers who need to run, test and develop AI models, as well as port and develop libraries for high-performance computing (HPC). The company also offers own cloud service where these servers can be rented.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $822M
Lightmatter uses photonic computing to accelerate computation and communication between chips in cloud AI systems. The company's first two products are Passage chips, which utilize both photons and electrons to improve operational efficiency. They combine the computational tasks that electrons excel at (such as memory) with those that light excels at (such as performing massive matrix multiplications in deep learning models). Photonics enables multiple computations to be performed simultaneously because data arrives as light of different colors. This increases the number of operations per unit area and reuses existing hardware, improving energy efficiency. Passage takes advantage of the bandwidth of light to connect processors, similar to how fiber optic cables use light to transmit data over long distances. This allows disparate chips to function as a single processor.
Lightmatter uses photonic computing to accelerate computation and communication between chips in cloud AI systems. The company's first two products are Passage chips, which utilize both photons and electrons to improve operational efficiency. They combine the computational tasks that electrons excel at (such as memory) with those that light excels at (such as performing massive matrix multiplications in deep learning models). Photonics enables multiple computations to be performed simultaneously because data arrives as light of different colors. This increases the number of operations per unit area and reuses existing hardware, improving energy efficiency. Passage takes advantage of the bandwidth of light to connect processors, similar to how fiber optic cables use light to transmit data over long distances. This allows disparate chips to function as a single processor.
6
Country: China | Funding: $761.9M
Cambricon is called Chinese Nvidia - as it builds core processor chips and general-purpose graphics processing units for use in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The company's core business is the development and design of AI chips for cloud servers, edge devices and terminals, as well as data-centre clusters but it also produces AI chips to power smartphones. Like Nvidia, Cambricon designs chips itself but outsources the wafer manufacturing to foundries. Cambricon heavily relies on government-affiliated clients that is why it was added to US trade blacklist, restricting it from acquiring US core technology, including using foundry services offered by TSMC. So Cambricon relies on mainland foundries such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation and Hua Hong Semiconductor.
Cambricon is called Chinese Nvidia - as it builds core processor chips and general-purpose graphics processing units for use in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The company's core business is the development and design of AI chips for cloud servers, edge devices and terminals, as well as data-centre clusters but it also produces AI chips to power smartphones. Like Nvidia, Cambricon designs chips itself but outsources the wafer manufacturing to foundries. Cambricon heavily relies on government-affiliated clients that is why it was added to US trade blacklist, restricting it from acquiring US core technology, including using foundry services offered by TSMC. So Cambricon relies on mainland foundries such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation and Hua Hong Semiconductor.
7
Country: UK | Funding: $692M
Graphcore is a semiconductor company that develops accelerators for AI and machine learning. It aims to make a massively parallel Intelligent Processing Unit that holds the complete machine learning model inside the processor.
Graphcore is a semiconductor company that develops accelerators for AI and machine learning. It aims to make a massively parallel Intelligent Processing Unit that holds the complete machine learning model inside the processor.
8
Country: USA | Funding: $588.9M
Celestial AI develops optical interconnect technology for compute-to-compute, compute-to-memory and on-chip data transmission.
Celestial AI develops optical interconnect technology for compute-to-compute, compute-to-memory and on-chip data transmission.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $475M
Unconventional AI aims to create a new, energy-efficient AI computer platform inspired by neuroscience. It develops silicon circuits that exhibit brain-like nonlinear dynamics to create a new foundation for intelligence. This means the startup will create hardware-isomorphism and run neural networks directly on physical objects, rather than simulating physical systems using software as is currently the case. This approach will enable capabilities significantly exceeding existing models while consuming only a fraction of the energy.
Unconventional AI aims to create a new, energy-efficient AI computer platform inspired by neuroscience. It develops silicon circuits that exhibit brain-like nonlinear dynamics to create a new foundation for intelligence. This means the startup will create hardware-isomorphism and run neural networks directly on physical objects, rather than simulating physical systems using software as is currently the case. This approach will enable capabilities significantly exceeding existing models while consuming only a fraction of the energy.
10
Country: South Korea | Funding: $457.7M
Rebellions.ai builds AI accelerators by bridging the gap between underlying silicon architectures and deep learning algorithms.
Rebellions.ai builds AI accelerators by bridging the gap between underlying silicon architectures and deep learning algorithms.
11
Country: USA | Funding: $355M
SiMa.ai is building an ultra low-power software and chip solution for machine learning at the edge.
SiMa.ai is building an ultra low-power software and chip solution for machine learning at the edge.
12
Country: Israel | Funding: $343.9M
Hailo has developed a specialized deep learning processor that delivers the performance of a data center-class computer to edge devices.
Hailo has developed a specialized deep learning processor that delivers the performance of a data center-class computer to edge devices.
13
Country: USA | Funding: $300M
MatX is an AI chip startup that designs chips that support large language models.
MatX is an AI chip startup that designs chips that support large language models.
14
Country: USA | Funding: $272M
Blaize is an AI computing platforms company that develops products for the automotive, smart vision, and enterprise computing markets.
Blaize is an AI computing platforms company that develops products for the automotive, smart vision, and enterprise computing markets.
15
Country: USA | Funding: $240M
Enfabrica develops networking hardware to drive AI workloads
Enfabrica develops networking hardware to drive AI workloads
16
Country: USA | Funding: $212M
Kneron develops an application-specific integrated circuit and software that offers artificial intelligence-based tools.
Kneron develops an application-specific integrated circuit and software that offers artificial intelligence-based tools.
17
Country: Netherlands | Funding: $203.2M
Axelera is working to develop AI acceleration cards and systems for use cases like security, retail and robotics that it plans to sell through partners in the business-to-business edge computing and Internet of Things sectors.
Axelera is working to develop AI acceleration cards and systems for use cases like security, retail and robotics that it plans to sell through partners in the business-to-business edge computing and Internet of Things sectors.
18
Country: USA | Funding: $164.7M
Mythic goes beyond conventional digital architectures, memory, and calculation elements – rethinking everything from the ground up: from transistors and physics, through circuits and systems, up to software and AI algorithms.
Mythic goes beyond conventional digital architectures, memory, and calculation elements – rethinking everything from the ground up: from transistors and physics, through circuits and systems, up to software and AI algorithms.
19
Country: USA | Funding: $162.9M
EnCharge AI delivers a battle-tested computing platform to unlock the best AI computing, from the edge to the cloud.
EnCharge AI delivers a battle-tested computing platform to unlock the best AI computing, from the edge to the cloud.
20
Country: USA | Funding: $126M
EdgeQ intends to fuse AI compute and 5G within a single chip. The company is pioneering converged connectivity and AI that is fully software-customizable and programmable.
EdgeQ intends to fuse AI compute and 5G within a single chip. The company is pioneering converged connectivity and AI that is fully software-customizable and programmable.
21
Country: USA | Funding: $125.4M
Etched.ai is an AI chip startup that develops Sohu, a chip designed specifically for running transformer models.
Etched.ai is an AI chip startup that develops Sohu, a chip designed specifically for running transformer models.
22
Country: USA | Funding: $124M
Esperanto Technologies is a company develops high-performance, energy-efficient computing solutions encouraging your innovation in artificial intelligence via flexible RISC-V open instruction set architecture (ISA) designs.
Esperanto Technologies is a company develops high-performance, energy-efficient computing solutions encouraging your innovation in artificial intelligence via flexible RISC-V open instruction set architecture (ISA) designs.
23
Country: USA | Funding: $115M
Luminous develops supercomputer for AI on a single chip that will replace 3000 TPU boards.
Luminous develops supercomputer for AI on a single chip that will replace 3000 TPU boards.
24
Country: France | Funding: $111.4M
Prophesee develops innovative computer vision sensors and systems for applications in all fields of artificial vision. The sensor technology is inspired by biological eyes, acquiring and processing the visual information in an extremely performing yet highly efficient way.
Prophesee develops innovative computer vision sensors and systems for applications in all fields of artificial vision. The sensor technology is inspired by biological eyes, acquiring and processing the visual information in an extremely performing yet highly efficient way.
25
Country: USA | Funding: $105M
Axiado Corporation is a security processor company redefining hardware root of trust with hardware-based security technologies, including per-system AI.
Axiado Corporation is a security processor company redefining hardware root of trust with hardware-based security technologies, including per-system AI.
26
Country: South Korea | Funding: ₩134.5B
DEEPX is a Korean AI hardware system solution company.
DEEPX is a Korean AI hardware system solution company.
27
Country: Finland | Funding: $78.6M
DataCrunch provides The ML Cloud - premium dedicated GPU servers and clusters Model inference services (For your AI/ML needs)
DataCrunch provides The ML Cloud - premium dedicated GPU servers and clusters Model inference services (For your AI/ML needs)
28
Country: Israel | Funding: $75M
Habana Labs unlocks the true potential of AI by providing an order of magnitude improvements in processing performance, cost and power consumption. The company develops AI processors from the ground up, optimized for the specific needs of training deep neural networks and for inference deployment in production environments.
Habana Labs unlocks the true potential of AI by providing an order of magnitude improvements in processing performance, cost and power consumption. The company develops AI processors from the ground up, optimized for the specific needs of training deep neural networks and for inference deployment in production environments.
29
Country: Israel | Funding: $59.7M
NeuReality is a semiconductor start-up that designs AI-as-a-service infrastructure.
NeuReality is a semiconductor start-up that designs AI-as-a-service infrastructure.
30
Country: USA | Funding: $54M
Built around a patented Polymorphic Dataflow Architecture, supported by a comprehensive SDK, Kinara Ara Edge AI processors accelerate and optimize real-time decision making for unrivaled edge AI solutions. Our Ara AI accelerators power smart edge devices and gateways that demand responsive AI computing with optimal energy efficiency.
Built around a patented Polymorphic Dataflow Architecture, supported by a comprehensive SDK, Kinara Ara Edge AI processors accelerate and optimize real-time decision making for unrivaled edge AI solutions. Our Ara AI accelerators power smart edge devices and gateways that demand responsive AI computing with optimal energy efficiency.
31
Country: USA | Funding: $40.2M
Rain Neuromorphics builds artificial intelligence processors, inspired by the brain.
Rain Neuromorphics builds artificial intelligence processors, inspired by the brain.
32
Country: USA | Funding: $27.8M
Leading provider of software and hardware accelerated solutions for Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications.
Leading provider of software and hardware accelerated solutions for Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications.
33
Country: USA | Funding: $14.1M
Extropic is developing a fundamentally new computing device, which it calls "thermodynamic sampling units" (TSUs). The TSU's silicon components capture thermodynamic fluctuations of electrons to model the probabilities of random events in various complex systems. According to the developers, it is thousands of times more energy efficient than GPUs for some specialized ML calculations. The chip is used for probabilistic computing and creation of energy-based models, which can be used in numerical models for weather forecasting, image generation and robot trajectory planning. Extropic also releases TRHML software, which simulates TSU behavior on a GPU. The first working Extropic chip has already been delivered to several partners, including leading AI research labs and weather modeling startups.
Extropic is developing a fundamentally new computing device, which it calls "thermodynamic sampling units" (TSUs). The TSU's silicon components capture thermodynamic fluctuations of electrons to model the probabilities of random events in various complex systems. According to the developers, it is thousands of times more energy efficient than GPUs for some specialized ML calculations. The chip is used for probabilistic computing and creation of energy-based models, which can be used in numerical models for weather forecasting, image generation and robot trajectory planning. Extropic also releases TRHML software, which simulates TSU behavior on a GPU. The first working Extropic chip has already been delivered to several partners, including leading AI research labs and weather modeling startups.
34
Country: UAE | Funding: $11.7M
Solidus Ai Tech provides AI Marketplace (a platform for users and developers to leverage AI solutions) and Compute Marketplace (that offers unparalleled computing power, utilizing a state-of-the-art HPC Data Center in Europe).
Solidus Ai Tech provides AI Marketplace (a platform for users and developers to leverage AI solutions) and Compute Marketplace (that offers unparalleled computing power, utilizing a state-of-the-art HPC Data Center in Europe).
35
Country: Singapore | Funding: $11M
Cortical Labs is a biological computing startup that is revolutionizing computing by integrating living neurons into chips.
Cortical Labs is a biological computing startup that is revolutionizing computing by integrating living neurons into chips.
36
Country: USA | Funding: $10M
Ambient Scientific is a leading developer of industry’s lowest power programmable AI processors designed to address the explosive demand for Inference and Training in endpoint, edge and Battery-operated AI devices giving both connected and unconnected devices and appliances their own personalities. Ambient’s AI processor and microcontroller products and software libraries are designed to bring a plethora of exciting new innovative products to the market quickly.
Ambient Scientific is a leading developer of industry’s lowest power programmable AI processors designed to address the explosive demand for Inference and Training in endpoint, edge and Battery-operated AI devices giving both connected and unconnected devices and appliances their own personalities. Ambient’s AI processor and microcontroller products and software libraries are designed to bring a plethora of exciting new innovative products to the market quickly.
37
Country: Italy | Funding: €8.1M
Ephos makes photonic chips, which use light instead of electricity, which means faster chips that generate less heat. Such technology is seen as having important applications in quantum computing and in reducing electricity costs in the data centres that are needed for AI.
Ephos makes photonic chips, which use light instead of electricity, which means faster chips that generate less heat. Such technology is seen as having important applications in quantum computing and in reducing electricity costs in the data centres that are needed for AI.
38
Country: Taiwan | Funding: $7M
eYs3D offers silicon based solutions for A.I./M.L. Vision. symbiosis of Cloud-Edge & End-Point, Silicon & Microsystems.
eYs3D offers silicon based solutions for A.I./M.L. Vision. symbiosis of Cloud-Edge & End-Point, Silicon & Microsystems.
39
Country: Serbia | Funding: $2M
Anari AI is building the AI hardware industry from scratch by delivering a new way of designing and using AI chips.
Anari AI is building the AI hardware industry from scratch by delivering a new way of designing and using AI chips.
40
Country: USA
Boulder AI helps companies use computer vision and artificial intelligence to solve problems. With experience in AI software development, AI hardware design and manufacturing, and AI vision systems design and implementation, we provide technical know-how and services to businesses that want to “see.”
Boulder AI helps companies use computer vision and artificial intelligence to solve problems. With experience in AI software development, AI hardware design and manufacturing, and AI vision systems design and implementation, we provide technical know-how and services to businesses that want to “see.”
