Berlin-based deeptech startup NextGO Epi announced on July 15, 2026 that it has raised €2 million in pre-seed funding. Spun off from the Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth (IKZ) in 2025, the company is reportedly the only one in Europe producing industrial-quality gallium oxide epitaxial wafers up to 4 inches in diameter. The funding will go toward product development, team expansion, and commercial rollout across Europe and international markets.
What This Article Covers
- The details of NextGO Epi’s €2 million funding round and its backers
- What makes gallium oxide a notable next-generation power semiconductor material
- Expected applications, and how to treat the company’s still-unverified performance claims
Overview
Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) is drawing attention as a next-generation ultra-wide-bandgap semiconductor material, positioned as a successor to silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). NextGO Epi is a startup specializing in the production of gallium oxide epitaxial wafers, and this funding round marks its first institutional backing.
Details
The following points were confirmed via primary sources, including NextGO Epi’s own announcement, electrive.com, and Semiconductor Today.
- On July 15, 2026, NextGO Epi announced a €2 million pre-seed funding round, led by Vireo Ventures with participation from Ultratech Capital Partners, IBB Ventures, and angel investor Boris Habets
- NextGO Epi is a Berlin-based spinoff from IKZ, founded in 2025, and produces industrial-quality gallium oxide epitaxial wafers up to 4 inches in diameter
- The founding team has more than a decade of research experience in gallium oxide and holds two international patents
- Funding will be used for product development, team expansion, and commercial rollout across Europe and international markets
- Target applications cited include EV charging, renewable energy, and AI data centers, all tied to power conversion efficiency
- Gallium oxide is described as offering higher voltage tolerance and lower energy loss than SiC and GaN, but specific comparative figures on efficiency, voltage, and cost — along with claims about reduced EV charging times — are the company’s own projections, not third-party-verified results, and should be treated accordingly
Industry Impact
Gallium oxide is seen as a candidate power semiconductor material positioned to follow SiC and GaN from the research stage into commercialization. Institutional investment in a specialized startup like NextGO Epi is notable in the context of diversifying and strengthening Europe’s semiconductor materials supply chain. Growing power-conversion demand from EVs, renewable energy, and AI data centers is helping drive investment into this class of new materials.
Relevance to Japan
Gallium oxide, like SiC and GaN before it, is also an active area of research and development in Japan, making NextGO Epi’s progress relevant to Japanese power semiconductor material makers and research institutions from both a competitive and collaborative standpoint. Whether this European startup can establish mass-production technology is worth tracking as a reference point for how Japanese companies’ materials and manufacturing expertise compare.
What to Watch Next
- Progress toward commercialization, including production capacity, wafer shipment volumes, and revenue scale
- Progress on customer evaluations and specific adopting products or companies
- Availability of third-party data on voltage tolerance, efficiency, and reliability of gallium oxide devices
- A breakdown of how the €2 million will specifically be spent, and plans for a follow-on funding round
Summary
Berlin’s NextGO Epi has announced a €2 million pre-seed funding round to scale its gallium oxide epitaxial wafer business. As a spinoff from IKZ and reportedly Europe’s only producer of industrial-quality gallium oxide epiwafers, the company is positioned for potential adoption in EV charging, renewable energy, and AI data center power conversion applications. However, the specific performance and cost figures remain company projections for now, and it’s worth continuing to track progress on mass production and customer adoption.
