Ubitium secures funding to develop a universal RISC-V processor that combines functions of CPUs, GPUs, and specialised chips, revolutionising AI capabilities in embedded systems, eliminating the need for specialised chips.
Semiconductor startup Ubitium has secured $3.7M in seed funding to develop its breakthrough universal RISC-V processor, which promises to enable AI capabilities in embedded systems at no additional cost. The funding round, co-led by Runa Capital, Inflection, and KBC Focus Fund, will support the creation of prototypes and development kits, with commercial chips slated for release by 2026.
Based in Düsseldorf, Germany, and Cupertino, California, Ubitium’s innovation challenges a 57-year-old industry paradigm built on the Tomasulo algorithm. Its universal processor combines the functions of CPUs, GPUs, and other specialised chips into a single architecture, simplifying hardware and unlocking smarter, cost-effective solutions across industries.
“For too long, we’ve accepted that making devices intelligent means making them complex,” said Ubitium CEO Hyun Shin Cho. “Today, that changes. Our Universal Processor delivers workload-agnostic and AI-enabling compute capabilities to edge devices with a single chip, at a fraction of the cost to develop and manufacture compared to today’s offerings.”
AI and beyond: Universal RISC-V processor simplifying tech for a smarter world
Ubitium’s approach builds on 15 years of research by CTO Martin Vorbach, a semiconductor veteran with over 200 patents. His design eliminates the need for specialised cores, allowing transistors to handle any workload. This makes advanced AI and robotics more accessible across industries, with initial applications targeting embedded systems.
“The $500 billion processor industry is built on restrictive boundaries between computing tasks,” explained Cho. “We’re erasing those boundaries. This isn’t an incremental improvement. It is a paradigm shift. This is the processor architecture the AI era demands.”
Ubitium’s scalable architecture means its chips will support applications from small, embedded devices to high-performance systems. The company aims to establish its technology as the standard for cost-effective AI deployment and advanced computing across industries.
Investors see Ubitium’s universal RISC-V processor as a disruptive force
The company’s innovative approach has attracted attention from top investors. Dmitry Galperin of Runa Capital praised its flexibility, stating, “We’re impressed by Ubitium’s unique approach to processor microarchitecture, which is now able to adapt to any type of workload—from simple control logic to massive parallel data flow processing.”
Rudi Severijns from KBC Focus Fund noted the broader implications, “What Ubitium brings will provide a real breakthrough to develop and launch any new product with embedded electronics. Their approach will reduce the cost as well as the complexity, allowing a much faster time-to-market. What previously required multiple teams to collaborate on hardware and software design now becomes purely a software project.”
Jonatan Luther-Bergquist of Inflection called the startup a “contrarian bet” on a team redefining generalised computing. Meanwhile, RISC-V International CEO Calista Redmond highlighted how Ubitium exemplifies the flexibility of the open universal RISC-V processor architecture.
A vision for autonomous devices
Looking ahead, Ubitium plans to offer a complete portfolio of chips, unified by a single software stack, to streamline development processes. The company’s ambition is to break down cost and complexity barriers, making intelligent, autonomous devices the norm across industries.
“We envision a future where every device operates autonomously, making intelligent decisions in real time and transforming the way we interact with technology,” said Cho.
With its universal processor poised to revolutionise a $500B industry, Ubitium is setting the stage for a new era in AI and computing innovation.
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