PowerLattice attracts investment from ex-Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger for its power saving chiplet

In the fast-evolving world of technology, a pressing challenge has emerged: the demand for computing power is outstripping supply. Major tech companies are grappling with the need for expansive data centers to support the growing requirements of AI applications, which has made energy efficiency a top priority for semiconductor manufacturers. Enter PowerLattice, a promising startup established in 2023 by a team of seasoned electrical engineers from Qualcomm, NUVIA, and Intel. The company has unveiled a revolutionary method that claims to reduce the power consumption of computer chips by over 50%. Recently, PowerLattice announced its exit from stealth mode with a successful $25 million Series A funding round, led by Playground Global and Celesta Capital, bringing its total capital raised to $31 million. Pat Gelsinger, a general partner at Playground Global and the former CEO of Intel, praised the company’s innovative approach to power delivery. He stated, “This is the hard stuff: How do you get power into the device? There are very few teams and people that can do it.” Gelsinger's involvement lends significant credibility to PowerLattice, as he is a respected figure in the semiconductor industry. During a pitch session at Playground’s offices in March, the excitement was palpable; PowerLattice's CEO Dr. Peng Zou and his team were so impressed by Gelsinger's reputation that they even requested a selfie with him. Gelsinger left the meeting impressed by the startup’s technology, which revolves around a compact power delivery chiplet designed to minimize energy loss by bringing power closer to the processor. After two years of development, PowerLattice has reached a significant milestone: its first batch of chiplets is currently being manufactured by TSMC in collaboration with an undisclosed partner that is evaluating the startup’s technology. Looking ahead, PowerLattice intends to make its products available for testing by additional clients in the first half of 2026. Potential customers include major chip manufacturers such as Nvidia, Broadcom, and AMD, along with specialized AI chip developers like Cerberus and Grok. Gelsinger expressed optimism that PowerLattice’s innovative approach would capture the interest of chip makers, who are already working on enhancing energy efficiency within their own teams. PowerLattice is not alone in this competitive landscape; it will be vying with companies like Empower Semiconductor, which recently secured a $140 million Series D funding round. However, Gelsinger is confident in PowerLattice’s potential, describing its 50% energy efficiency improvement as “extraordinary.” He anticipates that the company will soon attract even larger investments to support its production goals. “The idea is bold, the benefits are large, and I expect others will be saying, ‘That’s a great idea. Let me try as well,’” he concluded.