JIMCO participates in Vertical Semiconductor’s US$ 11 million seed funding round

• JIMCO participates alongside a world-class investor syndicate led by Playground Global
• Supports Vertical Semiconductor’s development of vertical GaN transistors, which deliver higher efficiency and power density for AI chips and data centers
• Reflects JIMCO’s backing of deep-tech ventures tackling global energy and infrastructure challenges

JIMCO (Jameel Investment Management Company), the global investment arm of the Jameel family, today announces that the JIMCO Technology Fund has participated in the US$ 11 million seed funding round for Vertical Semiconductor, a developer of next-generation computing infrastructure technologies.

Led by Playground Global, the round received additional participation from milemark•capital and Shin-Etsu Chemical. The funding will help accelerate development of vertical GaN (gallium nitride) transistors, which deliver higher efficiency and power density for AI chips in data centers.

Vertical Semiconductor was founded in 2023 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers and alumni who combine deep semiconductor expertise and commercialization experience. Its vertical GaN power transistors push energy conversion closer to the chip with less power loss and heat, improving efficiency by up to 30%, and enabling a 50% smaller power footprint in AI data center racks.

Onur Aydin, Managing Director, JIMCO Technology Fund, said:

“Vertical Semiconductor represents the kind of deep technology innovation that can fundamentally reshape global energy and computing systems. By supporting energy efficient semiconductor technologies, we are backing the sustainable foundation of the AI and data center economy. This investment also strengthens our partnership with MIT-affiliated founders and researchers.”

Cynthia Liao, CEO and co-founder of Vertical Semiconductor, added:

“We’re thrilled to have JIMCO join this exceptional group of investors. Their support validates our vision to redefine what’s possible in power electronics, and to deliver the efficiency and scalability that AI infrastructure demands. We look forward to working together to rewrite how electricity is delivered to data centers at scale.”

The investment reflects JIMCO’s mission to back deep-tech ventures addressing global energy and infrastructure challenges. By investing in companies like Vertical Semiconductor, JIMCO reinforces its commitment to advancing technologies that enable sustainable, high-performance solutions for the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem.