GRENOBLE: AlpSemi, a developer of next-generation power semiconductors, has raised €17 million in funding to scale production of solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) components for residential buildings, commercial facilities, and the growing artificial intelligence data center market.
The funding round was led by French investment firm Yotta Capital, with participation from global venture firm SE Ventures, U.S.-based Navitas Semiconductor, and Luxembourg’s Cycle Group, a statement said.
The investment will accelerate the industrialization and commercial expansion of AlpSemi’s semiconductor power switches, which are specifically engineered for integration into solid-state circuit breakers.
The company’s first product, the AS800, is designed for miniature circuit breakers operating in 110V and 230V environments, targeting deployment at industrial scale.
“This financing positions AlpSemi to emerge as a leading global industrial player in power electronics,” said Frédéric Dupont, chief executive officer of AlpSemi.
“Our ambition is clear: accelerate the semiconductor roadmap required to enable the large-scale deployment of solid-state circuit breakers.”
SSCBs represent a transition from traditional electromechanical systems to digitally controlled power protection and distribution. The technology enables real-time electrical system protection, improved energy efficiency for both AC and DC architectures, and scalable electrification across multiple sectors.
AlpSemi’s technology spans materials, devices, and systems in what the company describes as a fully vertically integrated platform. The company’s engineering approach incorporates wide and ultra-wide bandgap technologies designed to be scalable across the semiconductor value chain.
“Our end-to-end engineering approach allows us to move beyond incremental improvements and fundamentally redefine power protection technologies,” said Fabrice Letertre, chief technology officer of AlpSemi.
The AS800 marks the first milestone in AlpSemi’s roadmap, which includes development of high-voltage power protection systems for 800V DC architectures in AI data centers.
The company said its technology addresses the growing need for higher power density and improved power conversion efficiency as data centers transition toward higher-voltage DC power systems.
“The rapid electrification of buildings, AI infrastructure and industrial systems is driving demand for smarter, highly scalable power protection,” said Vincent Deltrieu, managing partner at Yotta Capital.
“AlpSemi uniquely addresses this transition with a breakthrough semiconductor platform designed for industrial deployment at scale.”
Grégoire Viasnoff, global head of accelerator at SE Ventures, said the company exemplifies a new generation of industrial startups combining semiconductor innovation with market demand, noting potential commercial synergies with Schneider Electric.
AlpSemi is headquartered in Grenoble, France, in the country’s semiconductor and electronics innovation cluster.
