Startups for Sustainable Semiconductors

The Startups for Sustainable Semiconductors Initiative

A mentorship program + pitch event for innovators with sustainable technologies that can help drive impact in the semiconductor industry in the areas of emissions, energy, and circularity (water and waste), and is organized by CVCs of major players in the semiconductor ecosystem

Semiconductor manufacturing is going through its sustainability transition - right now - and it can’t come soon enough.

• Greenpeace estimates one semiconductor company consumes >4.8% of all electricity consumed in Taiwan, greater than that consumed in the country’s capital, Taipei.
• A major memory semiconductor player consumes 50 billion gallons of water annually, equivalent to three full days of flow from the Colorado River.
• A large chipmaker's fabs in 2019 consumed more than 3X as much water as Ford and produced 2X the hazardous waste.

Announcement of 2023 Finalists - Don't miss the Finalist pitches and exhibits at SEMICON West on July 13, 2023.  Register now!

Announcement of 2023 Semi-Finalists

Episode 1:  What is the Startups for Semiconductor Sustainable Program - In this podcast Francoise von Trapp of 3D InCites, James Amano, Senior Director of EHS and Sustainability at SEMI, sheds light on the program, joined by 2022 SemiFinalists, Jon Herlocker, President and CEO at Tignis, Maher Damak, CEO and Co-Founder at Infinite Cooling, and Lester D'Cruz, Senior Director Product Management at ATONARP.

Episode 2:  Waste Water, Gas Purification, and Circularity - James Amano, Senior Director of EHS and Sustainability at SEMI, joined three alumni from last year’s program for a podcast conversation with Francoise von Trapp of 3D InCites. Greg Newbloom, CEO and Co-Founder at Membrion; Ben Hernandez, Founder and CEO at NuMat Technologies; and Daniel Alvarez, Founder and CEO at Purity ReSource each discussed how their company’s solutions are helping the semiconductor industry achieve its sustainability goals and the boost in visibility they received from the program.

Episode 3:  The Role of the Venture Capital Companies - Hear about the journey ahead for the semifinalists of the 2023 program. Read about it here.  Hear from two of the VCs who make this program tick. They explain how they came up with the concept for a start-up pitch event, and how they collaborated with SEMI and VCs across the supply chain to make it happen, and the process and benefits of participating in the program. 

Who should apply?

Any and all startups, academics, and innovators of any form who have a unique idea that can help advance sustainability for the semiconductor industry, even if you have not yet applied your idea to the semiconductor industry! Improving sustainability in semiconductor manufacturing is a major challenge, and we need all hands on deck.

• Year 1 Startups for Semiconductor Sustainability articles/videos:

  • Finalists: https://www.semi.org/en/blogs/semi-news/startups-for-semiconductor-sustainability-finalists-announced-in-next-step-to-greener-chip-industry
  • Semifinalists: https://www.semi.org/en/blogs/semi-news/startups-for-semiconductor-sustainability-semifinalists-announced-at-semicon-west-2021-hybrid
  • Year 1 Finalist Tignis Announces Series A Funding: https://tignis.com/2022/07/07/tignis-announces-m-ventures-series-a-funding/
  • SEMICON West Sustainability Summit : https://www.3dincites.com/2022/07/takeaways-from-the-semicon-west-sustainability-summit/
  • Sustainable Semi Venture Forum Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJdQRYA_cJ0&list=PLx4lw_Dn--R7UtPapwFW-vOifb6ASBa4O
• General information on semiconductor sustainability challenges & opportunities:
  • imec - the environmental footprint of logic CMOS technologies: https://www.imec-int.com/en/articles/environmental-footprint-logic-cmos-technologies
  • McKinsey - sustainability and semiconductor operations: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/semiconductors/our-insights/sustainability-in-semiconductor-operations-toward-net-zero-production
  • 3Dincites - sustainability and semiconductor manufacturing: https://www.3dincites.com/2021/01/the-importance-of-sustainability-in-semiconductor-manufacturing/
• Related Events
  • SEMI Strategic Materials Conference (Oct 3 - 5): https://www.semi.org/en/connect/events/strategic-materials-conference-smc
    • Session 3: Strategic Capital Driving Materials Innovation - VCs, CVCs, Private Equity
  • Lam Capital Venture Competition (Oct 7): https://www.lamcapital.com/venture-competition/