Crystal Sonic Secures $250K Investment by Winning Lam Capital Venture Competition

Chip startup Crystal Sonic emerged as the winner of the third Lam Capital Venture Competition, securing a $250,000 investment from Lam Capital.

The announcement took place at the Enabling Future Semiconductors event held at Lam Research’s headquarters in Fremont, California. Crystal Sonic is dedicated to helping semiconductor manufacturers reduce waste and costs through innovative thin device lift-off and substrate reuse methods, effectively minimizing material waste in chip production.

The event showcased advancements in semiconductor technology, featuring a dozen finalists selected from 70 applicants. The runner-up, Lidrotec, specializes in tools for cutting semiconductor chips.

The competition aims to invest in transformative companies that enhance the semiconductor ecosystem through next-generation industrial automation and product innovation. This marks the third annual event, the first since 2022, following its inception in 2019 before the pandemic. Audrey Charles, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Lam Research and President of Lam Capital, spoke about the significance of the event during an interview.

Lidrotec's role as runner-up highlighted the diverse innovations presented. Over the years, Lam Research has invested in numerous chip-related startups, committing between $1 million and $10 million to each.

Charles noted that many applicants emphasized AI as a solution to increasing costs, technological complexities, and sustainability challenges. The six esteemed judges included Weili Dai, co-founder of Marvell; Rene Do from SK Hynix; Ben Haskell of Lam Capital; Amir Salek from Cerberus Capital Management; Vera Schroeder from Safar Partners; and Lucas Tsai from TSMC North America.

Tim Archer, CEO of Lam Research, emphasized the competition's benefits, stating it fosters collaboration within the broader chip ecosystem. "Our success hinges on embracing the innovations we witness today," Archer remarked.