COMPANY INFO
Etched.ai, Inc., founded in 2022 by Chris Zhu, Gavin Uberti, and Robert Wachen, is a private company headquartered in Cupertino, California, with approximately 35 employees. Operating in the Application Specific Semiconductors industry, Etched.ai develops specialized AI chips optimized for transformer models, aiming to radically reduce large language model (LLM) inference costs by embedding transformer architecture directly into hardware, enabling faster and more cost-effective AI computation compared to general-purpose GPUs. Their website is https://etched.com.
Etched, also known as Etched.ai, Inc., is a cutting-edge company founded in 2022 by Chris Zhu, Gavin Uberti, and Robert Wachen. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Etched operates in the Application Specific Semiconductors industry and has approximately 16 employees. The company specializes in developing revolutionary AI chips specifically optimized for transformer models, aiming to drastically reduce large language model (LLM) inference costs. By embedding the transformer architecture directly into hardware, Etched enables faster and more cost-effective AI computation compared to traditional GPUs.
Etched’s funding history is notable for its rapid progression and high-profile interest. The company has raised a total of $125 million over two main funding rounds, reflecting strong momentum and strategic investor backing. The Seed round in early 2023 provided the initial capital for product development, while the substantial Series A in mid-2024 dramatically scaled the company’s ambitions. Etched’s funding strategy has focused on securing venture capital from experienced institutional investors and visionary angels in the AI and semiconductor sectors.
This Series A round was dedicated to advancing Etched’s specialized AI chip for transformer models, with funds allocated to product development, scaling manufacturing (including a partnership with TSMC), and expanding the team for go-to-market activities.
The seed funding enabled Etched to launch its initial hardware platform and accelerate early-stage research and development efforts. This round laid the foundation for the company's breakthrough innovations in AI chip design.
A follow-on Series A1 round will further expand Etched's development capacity and market reach, consolidating their position at the forefront of AI hardware innovation.
Positive Sum is a leading technology-focused venture capital firm that led Etched’s Series A round. Their involvement has been critical in providing strategic direction, industry connections, and capital to drive Etched’s rapid product development and scaling.
Primary Venture Partner co-led the Series A round and plays a key role in Etched's funding journey, offering operational guidance and extensive expertise in scaling technology startups.
Fontinalis Partners, recognized for investing in transformative technologies, have brought valuable strategic insight and network access to Etched’s funding rounds.
Earthshot Ventures is dedicated to breakthrough innovation and supported Etched during its substantial early rounds, promoting sustainable and scalable AI infrastructure.
Firestreak Ventures contributed capital and industry expertise, supporting Etched’s technology development and future market growth.
As one of the notable backers, Two Sigma Ventures brings deep experience in AI and data science investments, further validating Etched's vision and product approach.
Etched’s cap table includes high-profile investors such as Peter Thiel, Amjad Masad, Balaji Srinivasan, Jawed Karim, Bryan Johnson, Charlie Cheever, and Stanley Druckenmiller, each providing strategic advice and amplifying the company’s presence in the AI ecosystem.
Websets is a powerful natural language search and data enrichment tool that helps you discover comprehensive funding information for any company. Whether you're researching Etched funding rounds or exploring investment data for other companies, Websets provides detailed insights into funding history, investors, and financial milestones.
With Websets, you can access detailed funding profiles, investor information, and financial data through intuitive natural language queries. Sign up now to enhance your funding research capabilities.