Cambridge GaN clinches $32m to transform power electronics globally

The Cambridge University spin-out is poised to target markets collectively worth billions. And the funding will enable the company to expand its operations in Cambridge, North America, Taiwan and Europe and deliver CGD’s unique value proposition to a growing customer base.

The round was led by an unnamed strategic investor with participation from British Patient Capital and supported by existing backers Parkwalk Advisors, BGF, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Foresight Group and IQ Capital.

Gallium nitride-based devices represent a breakthrough in power electronics, offering faster switching speeds, lower energy consumption, and more compact designs than traditional silicon-based solutions.

CGD’s proprietary monolithic ICeGaN® technology, which simplifies the implementation of GaN into existing and progressive designs, delivers efficiency levels exceeding 99 per cent, enabling energy savings of up to 50 per cent in a wide range of high-power applications including electric vehicles and data centre power supplies.

These innovations have the potential to save millions of tons of CO2 emissions annually, accelerating the global transition to more sustainable energy systems due to the inherent ease-of-use that ICeGaN® technology provides to its customers.

Dr. Giorgia Longobardi, CEO and Founder of CGD, said: “This funding round marks a pivotal moment for CGD. It validates our technology and vision to revolutionise the power electronics industry with our efficient GaN solutions and make sustainable power electronics possible.

“We're now poised to accelerate our growth and make a significant impact in reducing energy consumption across multiple sectors. We look forward to collaborating with our strategic investor to penetrate the automotive market.”

The global GaN power device market is projected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 41 per cent, reaching $2 billion by 2029.

At the same time, ICeGaN® is being seen as a viable alternative to existing solutions using Silicon Carbide, combining high energy-efficiency, miniaturisation, and monolithically integrated smart functionalities. This will enable Cambridge GaN Devices to have access to a high power market estimated to be in excess of $10 billion by 2029. With its cutting-edge technology and market leadership position, CGD is well positioned to capitalise on this rapid market expansion.

Having successfully secured industry-leading customers in their pipeline, CGD has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver reliable and impactful solutions, enabling innovation in the sector.

Henryk Dabrowski, SVP of Sales at CGD, said: “I'm thrilled to see this funding helping to deliver on customer deals we've already closed for CGD's latest-generation P2 products. This investment will significantly boost our ability to meet the growing demand for our reliable and easy-to-use GaN solutions.”

With a global team of experts, decades of research and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of GaN technology, CGD continues to deliver solutions that enhance everyday electronics.

As the world advances toward electrification and sustainability, CGD’s leadership in GaN technology offers a pathway to reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and mitigate environmental impact. By enabling efficient, compact, and high-performance power devices, CGD is setting a new standard for sustainable power electronics.

This significant investment will fuel CGD's growth strategy, focusing on the continued delivery of highly efficient GaN products to high-power industrial, data centre, and automotive markets.

John Pearson, Chief Investment Officer at Parkwalk Advisors, said: “CGD is at the forefront of technology that can reduce the energy demands of booming industries, like Artificial Intelligence and Electric Mobility.

“It has enormous global potential and widespread applications which will see CGD continue to innovate and grow. We are proud to have backed CGD since 2019 and are excited to be working with an exceptional team and cohort of other investors to accelerate its global expansion.”

CGD was spun-out by Prof. Florin Udrea and Dr. Giorgia Longobardi from Cambridge University in 2016 to exploit a revolutionary technology in power devices.

Its technology is protected by a strong IP portfolio which constantly grows based on the company's leading innovation skills and ambitions.