Observed Signal · Jun 12, 2024 · Funding · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Black Semiconductor Secures €254M for Graphene Chip Tech
Black Semiconductor, a German startup founded in 2020, has secured a total of €254.4 million to advance its graphene-based chip technology. The funding comprises €228.7 million in public grants from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, plus €25.7 million in equity led by Porsche Ventures and Project A Ventures, with participation from Scania Growth, Capnamic, Tech Vision Fonds, NRW.BANK, and others. The company aims to accelerate chip-to-chip data communication using graphene networks, surpassing silicon limitations. Funds will support R&D and a pilot production plant in Aachen, planned for 2026, creating 90 new high-tech jobs. Target applications include data centers, generative AI, and autonomous driving.
Major funding for a European deep-tech chip manufacturer enabling faster, more efficient AI computing, which underpins the infrastructure for advertising and marketing technologies.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Black Semiconductor received €228.7 million in public funding from the German federal government and North Rhine-Westphalia.
- The company secured an additional €25.7 million in equity, led by Porsche Ventures and Project A Ventures.
- Black Semiconductor uses graphene for optical chip-to-chip interconnects to improve speed and energy efficiency.
- A pilot production plant in Aachen is planned for 2026, expanding the workforce from 30 to 120 employees.
- The company was founded in 2020 by Daniel Schall and Sebastian Schall.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“Zusätzlich sicherte sich Black Semiconductor weitere 25,7 Mio. Euro an Eigenkapital, angeführt von Porsche Ventures und Project A Ventures....”
“Ebenfalls beteiligt waren Scania Growth, Capnamic, Tech Vision Fonds und NRW.BANK....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Personio acquires Circula to unify payroll, expenses, benefits
Personio, the Munich-based HR software provider, has acquired Circula, a Berlin-based fintech specializing in employee spend management, including expenses, travel costs, corporate cards, and benefits. This marks Personio's second acquisition of the year and its largest to date, announced on October 6, 2026, with financial terms undisclosed. The acquisition aims to create the first European platform combining HR, payroll, and spend management. Circula, founded in 2017, had raised a €15 million Series A in 2025 and serves over 3,000 European mid-market businesses with more than 250,000 users, including clients like Aston Martin, DATEV, and Securitas. The combined offering integrates expenses, corporate cards, and benefits with Personio's payroll engine, leveraging deep DATEV integrations and shared integrations with over 500 joint customers. Circula will operate as 'Circula by Personio' and remain available as a standalone product to non-Personio customers. This move intensifies competition in the spend management market, where Pleo, Spendesk, and Moss operate.
Nettle Raises $4.8M for AI Loss Control Workspace
Nettle, an AI platform for commercial insurance loss control, has raised $4.8 million in an oversubscribed seed round. The round was led by MTech, with participation from Project A Ventures, Sure Valley Ventures, Portfolio Ventures, Ventures Together, and angel investors. Total funding now stands at $6.8 million. Founded in 2024 by former QuantumBlack colleagues Jack Miller and Katya Kinane, Nettle develops an AI workspace that helps insurers assess and manage physical risks. The platform integrates risk identification, evidence capture, analysis, and reporting, and uses AI to analyze images, video, audio, documents, and third-party data. It enables faster risk inspections and supports multiple insurance lines. The new funds will support expansion in the US and Europe and grow engineering and go-to-market teams.
European defencetech hits record $7.4B as investment nearly triples
European defense technology startups have raised $7.4 billion in venture capital in 2026, nearly triple the $2.6 billion raised in 2025, according to the 'State of Defence Tech 2026' report by Dealroom and Resilience Media. Mega-rounds of over $1 billion account for more than 85% of funding, led by companies like Helsing, Quantum Systems, and others. The sector now represents 11.1% of European VC investment, up from 4% a year ago. Germany leads with $3.5 billion, driven by Munich-based Helsing ($1.8B) and Quantum Systems ($1.2B). For the first time, US investors contribute a larger share (47%) than European investors, up from 12-17% in 2020. Despite rapid growth, challenges remain, including limited exits and procurement hurdles, with year-end funding projected at $10.5 billion.
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