Singapore-based startup Nexstrom raised $12 million for its platform to grow 12-inch single-crystal 2D semiconductor materials, targeting post-silicon device applications.

Singaporean chip startup Nexstrom has raised $12 million in a seed funding round to commercialize its wafer-scale 2D semiconductor platform. Xora Innovation led the round, with participation from Foothill Ventures and SEEDS. Combined with $3 million in non-dilutive funds, the company has now raised a total of $15 million.

Nexstrom was founded in 2024 on the premise that the semiconductor industry is approaching the physical limits of silicon. As AI workloads demand hardware with "unprecedented transistor density without compromising energy efficiency," the startup identified a critical bottleneck that traditional silicon-based approaches can no longer address.

To overcome this constraint, Nexstrom has developed a platform for growing 12-inch single-crystal 2D semiconductor materials. These materials enable "precise electron control, reduce energy loss at the transistor level, and improve efficiency" while remaining compatible with existing advanced foundry manufacturing capabilities.

The full-stack platform integrates proprietary chemical vapor deposition (CVD) hardware, process technology, and wafer-scale 2D material growth into existing foundry workflows. The technology promises "single-crystal 2D material growth across industry-standard 12-inch wafers," providing what the company describes as a "clear path" to commercial adoption.

The funding will support commercialization of the platform alongside ongoing development and expansion of Nexstrom's engineering and leadership teams. The company is already working closely with "prominent industry partners" to validate its technology within existing chip manufacturing workflows.

"Silicon has fueled decades of computing innovation, but the industry now needs a new materials platform to continue scaling performance," said Dr. Lance Li, co-founder and chief scientist. "For years, the challenge has not been demonstrating the promise of 2D materials, but manufacturing them at the scale and quality advanced foundries require."