Vertical Semiconductor
Category: AI Infrastructure
Vertical GaN transistors for high-efficiency power delivery in AI data centers and grid infrastructure Vertical Semiconductor was founded in 2023. The company is led by Cynthia Liao. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Team size: 1-10. Total funding raised: $11 million. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include ["Playground Global","JIMCO Technology Ventures","milemark•capital","Shin-Etsu Chemical"].
- Founded
- 2023
- Headquarters
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Team size
- 1-10
- Total funding
- $11 million
Value proposition
50% smaller footprint, 30% higher efficiency, 10% lower total cost of ownership compared to traditional silicon solutions
Products and solutions
["Vertical GaN Power FETs","High-voltage power supplies","Power conversion systems"]
Unique value
Vertical GaN architecture enabling higher voltage handling and faster switching than lateral GaN or Silicon. Technology based on a decade of MIT research.
Target customer
AI data centers, EV manufacturers, grid infrastructure operators
Industries served
["AI Data Centers","Electric Vehicle Charging","Grid Infrastructure","Renewable Energy"]
Technology advantage
Vertical GaN architecture that scales voltage with thickness and current with area, enabling applications from 40V to >2kV. Manufacturing approach compatible with standard silicon CMOS processes.
How they differentiate
Novel vertical GaN architecture that overcomes voltage limitations of lateral GaN HEMTs, enabling scalable platform from 40V to >2kV
Main competitors
["onsemi","NexGen Power Systems","Navitas Semiconductor","Transphorm","Efficient Power Conversion (EPC)"]
Key partnerships
["MIT Microsystems Technology Laboratories","Playground Global (investor)","Shin-Etsu Chemical (investor)"]
Notable customers
[]
Major milestones
["Successfully spun out of MIT","Raised $11 million seed funding in October 2025","Demonstrated technology on 8-inch wafers","Technology validated using standard silicon CMOS manufacturing"]
Growth metrics
Early stage - no public revenue or customer metrics available
Market positioning
Emerging player in vertical GaN transistors, positioned as next-generation solution for AI data center power delivery
Geographic focus
North America, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts
Patents and IP
Technology based on doctoral research at MIT, specific patent numbers not publicly disclosed
About Cynthia Liao
CEO & Co-Founder of Vertical Semiconductor. MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. A decade of experience across energy, finance, and government. Former Deputy Head of Climate Change and Environment for the British Embassy to China. Schwarzman Scholar.
Official website: https://verticalsemi.com