In summer of 2021, SEMI member companies joined forces to seek out and partner with the world’s top startups to bring new sustainability technologies to semiconductor operations. The initiative, called Startups for Semiconductor Sustainability, covers three areas:
- Energy efficiency – aimed at reducing energy consumption at tool, manufacturing processes, and supply chain levels
- Water technologies – designed to increase manufacturing process efficiencies as well as reclamation, reuse and restoration in industrial treatment centers
- Materials usage – focused on developing sustainable alternative chemistries for wafer processing, materials recycling and waste stream abatement
The effort attracted a large pool of companies that were vetted by the Startups for Semiconductor Sustainability organizing committee and narrowed down to 18 semifinalists revealed at the SEMI Sustainability workshop at SEMICON West 2021 Hybrid. Faran Nouri of Lam Capital announced the semifinalists during her talk on the role of venture capital in driving semiconductor sustainability.
Semifinalists then participated in a speed pitch event in January 2022, presenting to representatives of companies in the event’s organizing committee as well as select venture capital firms. The pitch event gave potential investors a close look at technologies of greatest interest to the semiconductor industry today.
Members of the organizing committee scored each pitch and, following final tabulation, selected the following companies as finalists.
Materials Usage
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Atonarp delivers digital molecular profiling solutions |
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Irradiant Technologies harnesses light in 3D nanofabrication |
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NuMat Technologies is a software-driven material design platform |
Energy Efficiency
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Electric Hydrogen builds efficient and low-cost electrolyzers |
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Turntide provides an efficient smart motor system for buildings and solutions for electrification of transport |
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Verdigris Technologies uses energy intelligence to eliminate electricity waste |
Water Technologies
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2S Water protects water with real-time data using single and multielement sensors |
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Infinite Cooling offers technology to reduce water consumption in evaporative cooling tower systems |
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Membrion makes ion exchange membranes for industrial wastewater |
The next step is for finalists to meet with top executives from companies that organized the event, giving them direct access to decision makers – visibility that will be invaluable. As one organizer commented, “I would have loved to have had this opportunity in my entrepreneur days.”
James Amano is senior director of Standards, EHS, and Sustainability at SEMI.