Micro-Nano Core secures C2 funding as three inference chips approach customer testing
The AMW Read
The funding incrementally advances a compute-in-memory chip developer, but pending physical-chip customer tests and undisclosed orders limit demonstrated impact to its hardware subsegment.
Micro-Nano Core secures C2 funding as three inference chips approach customer testing
Micro-Nano Core announced more than RMB 1 billion in C2 funding on October 28, led by JianTou Investment. The Hangzhou company reported RMB 3 billion raised over six months, including its RMB 1 billion C1 round in September. It did not disclose a valuation. Funds will support product development and supply-chain preparation for volume production. Three first-generation chips across its LP-CIM and PCIe-CIM series have completed tape-out. Customer testing and initial volume supply are planned for early 2027.
The company targets edge and cloud AI inference with a 3D-CIM architecture combining DRAM near-memory computing, SRAM compute-in-memory and RISC-V heterogeneous computing. This approach seeks to reduce the energy and bandwidth costs of moving data between memory and processors. Its funding supports a hardware alternative whose commercial test is customer adoption and delivery. The source reports that rivals Houmo and Witmem already have production or shipment milestones, although their memory technologies and target markets differ. Micro-Nano Core's claimed efficiency gains lack complete comparison specifications and test conditions.
For investors and device builders, early 2027 provides a concrete checkpoint: physical-chip customer tests, production deliveries and purchase orders. Existing simulator validation, joint debugging and cloud proof-of-concept work support development but do not establish shipped performance or sales. The company has disclosed no named test customers, volume purchase orders or revenue scale for these three chips. Supply-chain investors may help customer access, but their investments do not establish procurement commitments.