AlpSemi, a Grenoble-based start-up specialising in semiconductor power switches, has announced the completion of a €17 million funding round led by Yotta Capital, with participation from SE Ventures, Navitas Semiconductor and Cycle Group. The funding will be used to industrialise and scale up the commercial deployment of its solid-state circuit breaker technology.
Analysis by the experts at Auris Finance, specialists in M&A advisory and financial engineering.
Founded in February 2024 by Frédéric Dupont, Chief Executive Officer, and Fabrice Letertre, Chief Technology Officer, AlpSemi employs around fifteen people. The €17 million raised is intended to finance the company’s transition from product development to industrial-scale production, a stage that typically requires investment in manufacturing lines, product qualification and the recruitment of international sales teams.
Components designed for the electrification of buildings and AI data centres
AlpSemi develops semiconductor power switches for solid-state circuit breakers, a digital alternative to traditional electromechanical devices capable of interrupting current within just a few microseconds, compared with several tens of milliseconds for a conventional circuit breaker. The company has already launched its first product, the AS800, designed for solid-state miniature circuit breakers operating at 110 and 230 volts, before extending its product roadmap towards 800-volt direct-current architectures for artificial intelligence data centres.
This dual focus — residential and commercial buildings on the one hand, and high-performance computing infrastructure on the other — positions AlpSemi across two markets benefiting from strong structural growth drivers: the increasing electrification of end uses and the surge in energy demand associated with the deployment of artificial intelligence. Both trends require electrical distribution architectures that are denser, faster and more intelligent than today’s standards.
From technology validation to industrial deployment
The shift from electromechanical circuit breakers to semiconductor-based systems requires close integration with the existing power component ecosystems used by electrical equipment manufacturers. AlpSemi states that its solutions are designed to integrate directly into these established value chains, rather than requiring a closed proprietary architecture. This approach facilitates adoption by industrial players already operating standardised production lines.
A funding round combining venture capital with strategic industrial investors
The composition of the funding round reflects a blended investment approach combining financial capital with strategic industrial partnerships. Yotta Capital, a French investment fund focused on supporting industrial SMEs, led the transaction, while SE Ventures, the investment arm of Schneider Electric, brings the potential for direct commercial synergies with a global leader in energy management. The participation of Navitas Semiconductor, a US-based supplier of next-generation power semiconductors, and Cycle Group, a Luxembourg-based organisation supporting entrepreneurs with international ambitions, further strengthens the consortium and creates opportunities for expansion in both Europe and the United States.
Our experts by your side
Auris Finance advises business owners and management teams on M&A transactions and financial engineering. Are you considering a fundraising, a strategic industrial partnership or a sale in the semiconductor or industrial technology sectors? Our teams are available to support you throughout the process.
