10th May 2024
Kubos adds USD 2 million investment to double red microLED efficiency for
AR/VR displays
Cambridge and Cardiff, UK, 7
th May 2024: Kubos Semiconductors, a microLED material
technology company, has raised USD 2 million to accelerate development of its cubic GaN
technology which can double the efficiency of red microLEDs. It brings the company’s total
funding to USD 5.5 million and will enable Kubosto enter the microLED display market
within three yearsthrough IP licensing. According to analyst Spherical Insights and
Consulting, the global market for microLED displays will grow from USD 1.35 billion 2022 to
USD 14.97 billion by 2032. Kubos technology will enable clearer, brighter, more efficient
displays to be manufactured for augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) applications.
Kubos secured support from three of the most prolific and experienced veterans of the (UK)
compound semiconductor industry and three strategic investors. Martin Lamb, Drew Nelson,
and Geoff Haynes have a combined tenure of over 100 years in compound semiconductor
materials development. Strategic investors are the Development Bank of Wales, FOV
Ventures, and S4C Digital Media Limited.
Caroline O’Brien, CEO of Kubos commented, “Any UK compound semiconductor business
would be thrilled to have just one of these movers and shakers in the industry supporting it
and Kubos can now draw on the experience of all three. In addition, the strategic investor
group that we have assembled brings vital insight into how the metaverse, digital content
and AR/VR products drive display and microLED requirements. This, coupled with our
unrivalled experience in compound semiconductors means that Kubos is now fully equipped
and ready to deliver.”
Martin Lamb, formerly CEO of Wafer Technology (which was acquired by IQE plc in 2000)
and an angel investor with several successful exits, was instrumental in the formation of
Kubos and an early investor and has guided and shaped the team. He has served as
Chairman since its inception and will continue in this role. Drew Nelson OBE, President of
IQE plc, a major compound semiconductor supplier, having founded and grown the business
before stepping down as CEO in January 2022, has invested in Kubos and joins the board of
directors. Geoff Haynes also participated in this investment round and is a gallium nitride
(GaN) semiconductor expert. A company he co-founded in 2008 to address the power
semiconductors market, GaN Systems, was acquired by Infineon for USD 830million last year.
The Development Bank of Wales has a track record of supporting breakthrough technologies
and compound semiconductor businesses. FOV Ventures is focussed on spatial computing
and S4C Digital Media plays a key role in the delivery of digital content to consumers. This
investor group brings experience and knowledge that touches on all aspects of the AR/VR
opportunity that Kubos aims to exploit.
Dr. Carl Griffiths, fund manager in the Technology Venture Investments team at the
Development Bank, said: “Kubos’ proprietary technology has the potential to improve the
user experience for lighting and displays and accelerate the adoption of microLEDs across a
wide range of applications. We are proud to be working with this exciting company of highly
acclaimed engineers and scientists, and to have helped them re-locate to Wales to make use
of the compound semiconductor expertise and infrastructure in the region.”
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For more information about Kubos Semiconductors, visit: https://kubos-semi.com
Media contact: Caroline O’Brien, CEO, Kubos Semiconductors: caroline.obrien@kubossemi.com; +44 7538 864445