Berlin-based NextGO Epi raises €2 million for gallium oxide semiconductor development

NextGO Epi, a Berlin-based deep-tech startup developing gallium oxide epitaxial wafers for next-generation power semiconductor devices, has raised €2 million in a pre-seed funding round. The round was led by Vireo Ventures, with participation from Ultratech Capital Partners, IBB Ventures, and angel investor Boris Habets. The company claims to be Europe's only producer of gallium oxide epiwafers, marking its first institutional backing.

Founded in 2025 by Dr. Ta-Shun Chou, Dr. Andreas Popp, and Dr. Andreas Fiedler, NextGO Epi is a spin-off of the Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ). The startup has developed a process that produces a semiconductor material capable of reducing EV charging times from 60 to just 10 minutes while cutting power semiconductor manufacturing costs by up to 75%.

Gallium oxide-based devices can withstand higher voltages and are more efficient than currently used silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN). The material is 10x more power-efficient, handles up to 6x higher voltage density, and can be produced for up to 75% less. NextGO Epi's technology is used in EV charging stations, renewable energy inverters, AI data centers, and missile tracking systems.

The company is already in production, generating revenue, and serving customers across three continents. Its most immediate application is EV charging: a station equipped with NextGO Epi's product can fully charge a vehicle in 10 minutes, even in winter when lithium batteries typically underperform.

The updated EU Chips Act 2.0, unveiled in June, explicitly aims to reduce Europe's dependence on Asian and US suppliers for semiconductor materials. NextGO Epi is precisely the kind of company the policy is designed to create. The fresh capital will be used to accelerate product development, grow the team, and strengthen commercial presence in Europe and global markets.