Fab2, a startup founded by Jim Keller and Sam Zeloof, has rebranded from Atomic Semi and shifted its operations to Texas [1]. The company aims to mass-produce small semiconductor fabs, which can pattern chips far smaller than a wafer and turn prototypes around in hours [2]. Fab2's approach uses electron-beam lithography, which writes patterns directly rather than projecting them through a mask, making it slower than EUV scanners [3]. However, this method suits prototyping and low-volume runs, offering faster turnaround times and lower costs.
Fab2 has raised a reported $15 million seed round in 2023, led by the OpenAI Startup Fund, at a valuation of about $100 million [4]. The company's model of many small, printable fabs contrasts with the likes of Tesla and SpaceX's Terafab, which targets high-volume AI production [5]. While Fab2's approach may not be suitable for high-volume commercial production, it could disrupt traditional chip manufacturing by enabling faster prototyping and lower costs.
Sources
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/atomic-semi-rebrands-as-fab2-and-shifts-operations-to-texas
- https://www.tomshardware.com/news/man-builds-own-silicon-chip-at-home
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/elon-musk-formally-launches-20-billion-terafab-chip-project
- https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/fab2
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/elon-musk-formally-launches-20-billion-terafab-chip-project
