Observed Signal · Sep 9, 2026 · Funding · Source: Tech.eu (European Tech & Deals) · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
SCI Semiconductor Raises £5M for Memory-Safe Chips
Sheffield-based SCI Semiconductor, developer of the world's first memory-safe computer chip, has raised £5 million to accelerate production. The oversubscribed round was co-led by PXN Ventures and Mercia Ventures, with participation from Osney Capital, Black Opal Ventures, and private investors. The funding will scale production of its ICENI chips, based on CHERI technology, addressing memory safety vulnerabilities behind ~70% of cyberattacks. SCI has secured orders worth £2 million and government contracts totaling £7.7 million, including as a core supplier in the UK's Accelerated CHERI Adoption Programme. Partnerships with Google Research and Microsoft and compliance with the EU Cyber Resilience Act position the company for growth. Founded in 2022, the company plans to create 15 new jobs.
Funding for innovative hardware addressing critical cybersecurity vulnerability, with potential ripple effects across tech infrastructure supporting adtech and digital services.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- SCI Semiconductor raised £5 million in an oversubscribed funding round.
- The round was co-led by PXN Ventures and Mercia Ventures, with Osney Capital and Black Opal Ventures participating.
- SCI Semiconductor's ICENI chips are the first based on CHERI memory-safe technology.
- The company has secured orders worth £2 million and government contracts worth £7.7 million.
- SCI Semiconductor has partnerships with Google Research and Microsoft.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“It has also ... agreed partnerships with Google Research and Microsoft....”
“It has also ... agreed partnerships with Google Research and Microsoft....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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XCENA Raises $135M, Bets on Memory-Centric AI Chips
XCENA, a four-year-old chip startup with offices in South Korea and the U.S., raised $135 million in a Series B at a $570 million valuation (bringing total funding to $185 million) to commercialize a memory-centric chip designed to move compute closer to DRAM. XCENA’s MX1 prototype uses CXL (Compute Express Link) to process data within memory modules and relies on many small RISC-V cores and a custom internal memory hierarchy. Founders Jin Kim (CEO), Dohun Kim (CTO) and Harry Juhyun Kim (CPO) are veterans of Samsung and SK Hynix. The company expects Samsung-foundry mass production by end of 2026 and revenue beginning in 2027, and counts Seoul VCs Altinum and IMM Investment among the Series B co-leads. XCENA targets hyperscalers and cites rivals including Astera Labs and Marvell.
Cognichip Raises $60M to Use AI to Design Chips
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MintNeuro raises $5M for neural device chips
MintNeuro, an Imperial College London spinout, has raised $5 million in a funding round led by Odyssey Ventures, with participation from 33East, JSK Investments, Alumni Ventures, and returning investors. The company develops specialized semiconductors for neural devices, including brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neuromodulation systems, and wearables. The new capital will be used to scale engineering and commercial teams, bring products to market, support customer adoption, and expand into the US market. MintNeuro has already delivered working silicon and has partnerships with Motif Neurotech and Amber Therapeutics, including a multi-year commercial chip supply agreement with Motif. The company aims to become the foundational semiconductor platform for the global neurotechnology industry.
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