In the competitive landscape of AI chip design, Korean startups are making significant strides to challenge industry giants like Nvidia. Two notable fabless chip companies in Korea, Rebellions and Sapeon, have emerged as key players in this arena.
Founded with a mission to design cutting-edge AI chips, Rebellions has garnered attention by securing substantial funding in its recent Series B round, raising an impressive $128 million. Led by the seasoned CEO Sunghyun Park, whose background includes stints at prestigious firms like Morgan Stanley and Starlink, coupled with a PhD from MIT, Rebellions is poised for success.
Partnering with industry heavyweight Samsung Foundry, Rebellions is actively engaged in the development and packaging of its flagship AI inference chip named 'Rebel'. With Samsung set to handle the fabrication, Rebellions aims to make a significant impact in the AI chip market.
Backed by SK Telecom, Sapeon is another promising player in the Korean AI startup scene. Embracing the catchy slogan "One tiny spark for a chip, a quantum leap for AI inference", Sapeon is making waves with its innovative approach. The X330, Sapeon's flagship chip, boasts an impressive 367 TFLOPS performance, specifically designed for accelerating inference tasks.
Utilizing TSMC's advanced 7nm process for manufacturing, Sapeon's X330 is on track for customer delivery by June. The company's CEO, Soojung Ryu, a Georgia Tech PhD holder, brings a wealth of expertise to drive Sapeon's ambitious goals in the AI chip market.
As these Korean AI startups intensify their efforts to challenge traditional industry leaders like Nvidia, the tech world eagerly anticipates the impact of their groundbreaking innovations