25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Portland-based ChEmpower raises $18M series A
By submitting your information you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and User Agreement .
ChEmpower, a 6-year-old Portland startup making technology for semiconductor manufacturing, has raised $18.7 million.
The company's series A round was co-led by venture capital firms M Ventures and Rhapsody Venture Partners. Investors Intel Capital, Pangaea Ventures, Foothill Ventures, In-Q-Tel and TEL Venture Capital also participated, according to an announcement from ChEmpower.
ChEmpower develops abrasive-free planarization technology for semiconductor manufacturing. Its polishing pads and solutions are designed to create defect-free surfaces and reduce costs and water use in the chipmaking process, according to its news release.
GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY
Find Local Events Near You
Connect with a community of local professionals.
Explore All Events
The money will go toward scaling ChEmpower's manufacturing, product commercialization and recruiting, the news release said.
'The rapid rise of AI and the demand for sustainable, high-performance semiconductors have created a critical opportunity for ChEmpower,' ChEmpower CEO and co-founder Sudhanshu Misra said in the announcement. 'With this new funding, we will accelerate our operations, extend our market reach, and enhance our product offerings, ensuring we remain at the forefront of next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.'
Misra previously co-founded Hillsboro-based chipmaking technology company NexPlanar. That company was acquired by Cabot Microelectronics Corp. for $142 million in 2015. He launched ChEmpower in 2019 with co-founder and Clarkson University professor emeritus SV Babu, according to ChEmpower's website.
'At a time when the demands of AI and sustainability are reshaping the semiconductor industry, ChEmpower's innovative approach offers a compelling solution,' Intel Capital Chief of Staff Scott Shaw said in the announcement. 'Their scalable, high-performance technology is precisely the type of breakthrough needed to meet the evolving needs of the semiconductor market, and we are excited to support their journey to lead the next generation of chip manufacturing.'
