At the Enabling Future Semiconductors event held at Lam Research’s headquarters in Fremont, California, Crystal Sonic emerged as the winner of the third Lam Capital Venture Competition, securing a $250,000 investment from Lam Capital. The event, which focused on exploring novel semiconductor technology and manufacturing technologies, highlighted a dozen different startups who were the finalists among 70 applicants in the semiconductor-focused competition.

Winner and Runner-Up
Crystal Sonic, a chip-related startup, won the competition by showcasing its innovative technology that helps semiconductor manufacturers reduce waste and cost by enabling thin device lift-off and substrate re-use. This technology allows for the separation of parts of the substrate and reusing it, thereby reducing the waste of chip-making materials. The runner-up, Lidrotec, makes tools for cutting semiconductor chips.

Lam Capital Venture Competition
The Lam Capital Venture Competition aims to invest in disruptive companies that advance the semiconductor ecosystem through next-generation industrial automation, technology, and product innovation. This is the third annual event for the competition, with the first event taking place before the pandemic in 2019. The competition is a significant platform for Lam Research, a 44-year-old semiconductor equipment manufacturing company, to nurture collaboration with customers and the wider chip ecosystem.

Judges and Applications
The six judges for the competition included Weili Dai, serial entrepreneur and cofounder of Marvell and a frequent investor in semiconductor startups including Silicon Box. Other judges included Rene Do, senior investment director, SK Hynix; Ben Haskell, investment director, Lam Capital; Amir Salek, senior managing director, Cerberus Capital Management; Vera Schroeder, partner, Safar Partners; and Lucas Tsai, senior director, market development and emerging business, TSMC North America.Many of the applicants had a heavy emphasis on AI, particularly as a way to counteract growing costs, increasing technological complexity, and sustainability issues. Lam Research has been investing in chip-related startups for years and has made 20 investments so far, with $1 million to $10 million going into each startup.

Impact on Lam Research
The competition is beneficial for Lam Research, as it enables the company to stay ahead of the curve in terms of innovation and to nurture collaboration with customers and the wider chip ecosystem. As Audrey Charles, senior vice president for corporate strategy at Lam Research, noted, “We can only be successful based on the types of innovation we see today.”

Lam Capital Venture Competition Winners

Key Points

• Crystal Sonic: Helps semiconductor manufacturers reduce waste and cost by enabling thin device lift-off and substrate re-use.
• Lidrotec: Makes tools for cutting semiconductor chips.
• Lam Capital Venture Competition: Aims to invest in disruptive companies that advance the semiconductor ecosystem through next-generation industrial automation, technology, and product innovation.
• Judges: Include Weili Dai, Rene Do, Ben Haskell, Amir Salek, Vera Schroeder, and Lucas Tsai.
• Applications: Many applicants emphasized AI as a way to counteract growing costs, increasing technological complexity, and sustainability issues.
• Lam Research Investments: Has made 20 investments so far, with $1 million to $10 million going into each startup