PseudolithIC raises $6m to revolutionize wireless chips with chiplet HIT

PseudolithIC Inc., an innovative leader in RF chipset products, has successfully raised $6 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Entrada Ventures, with additional investments from Foothill Ventures and Uncork Capital.

The investment will enable the company to accelerate development and commercialization of hybrid semiconductor products, which integrate compound semiconductor chiplets into silicon wafers, aiming to transform both the technical performance and the economics of the RF and millimeter-wave communication industry.

Silicon, the workhorse of the semiconductor industry, offers uniform processing, high manufacturing efficiency and low cost. Compound semiconductors, however, are constructed with specialized processing, and while they offer enhanced performance, particularly at higher frequencies, these materials are fabricated on smaller wafers and are more expensive to produce.

The PseudolithIC chip offers the high performance of a monolithic microwave IC (MMIC), but at a fraction of the cost. The company’s proprietary technology integrates high-performance compound semiconductor chiplets with low-cost 300mm silicon wafers, offering a superior blend of performance, power efficiency, and scalability for RF applications.

This next-generation approach addresses key challenges in wireless communications, particularly for fast-growing and critical industries such as terrestrial and satellite communications, aerospace, and IoT (Internet of Things) applications.

“Our team is excited to push the boundaries of what is possible in RF technology,” said Jim Buckwalter, CTO of PseudolithIC and Prof. of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara. “The hybrid approach of combining silicon and compound semiconductor chiplets unlocks new potential for RF systems, enabling faster data rates, lower latencies, and better reliability. We believe our innovations will be game-changing for customers requiring high-performance wireless solutions.”

"We're really enthusiastic about leading PseudolithIC’s seed round,” said Alex Fang, Managing Partner at Entrada Ventures. “The wireless industry has been limited by the opposing metrics of performance and scale. We think Florian and Jim have developed something here that will unlock a new era in wireless systems that will result in unprecedented performance on mobile and satellite platforms."

Florian Herrault, CEO of PseudolithIC, said: “We are thrilled to have the backing of such investors as Entrada Ventures, Foothill Ventures, and Uncork Capital. Our goal is to lead the charge in providing cost-effective, high-performance silicon RFIC solutions augmented with compound semiconductors, that meet the ever-growing demands of next-generation wireless systems.”