A Phoenix-based startup was victorious in a global pitch competition for semiconductor innovations.
Crystal Sonic, which develops materials processing technology to reduce waste and costs in the semiconductor industry, took home first place and a $250,000 cash prize in the Lam Capital Pitch Competition, held June 3 at Lam Research’s headquarters in Fremont, California.
Crystal Sonic’s pitch to a panel of judges showcased its Sonic Lift-Off acoustic bass technique that uses sound waves to cut and lift off thin crystal wafers used in semiconductor device fabrication, leaving behind bulk substrate for reuse.
The process could allow chip manufacturers to dramatically lower cost and waste, while improving sustainability, according to the company.
“The Lam Capital Venture Competition was a truly unique and rewarding experience for us as a semiconductor hardware startup,” Arno Merkle, CEO of Crystal Sonic, said in a statement. “We were deeply impressed by the spirit of engagements and the caliber of all participants, including fellow startups, panelists, judges, investors, and Lam Research attendees, all with a laser focus on semiconductors. The exposure it afforded us is priceless, and we are confident this will give us the necessary boost to make our vision at Crystal Sonic a reality.”
Lam Capital’s third annual venture competition brought together a community of seasoned investors. It hosted nine startup finalists selected from an overall pool of 67 applications, according to a company announcement.
German startup Lidrotec was runner up in Lam Capital’s pitch competition for its low-damage laser wafer dicing equipment for cutting semiconductor chips.
“Our platform offers a valuable opportunity to showcase innovative technologies in the semiconductor space by bringing together Lam and startups to enhance their competitive edge,” Kevin Chen, managing director of Lam Capital, said in a statement. “We are excited this event drew investors who have deep knowledge of the semi world and are ready to invest in early-stage semi companies to push our industry forward.”
Crystal Sonic will present at SEMICON West
In addition to the Lam Venture Capital Competition, Crystal Sonic has another event in its sights. The company was named a finalist for the Semiconductor Industry Association’s national pitch competition, set for July 10-12 at SEMICON West in San Francisco. A year later, in 2025, SEMICON West will be held in Phoenix for the first time.
What's more, Crystal Sonic’s pitch competition award comes on the heels of the company’s recent public-private partnership with university researchers.
In May, Crystal Sonic announced its joining the Partnership for Economic Innovation’s Applied Research Center and will conduct process tests and feasibility studies on its product prototype in collaboration with experts from Arizona State University.
Merkle told AZ Inno in May that Crystal Sonic has made “great progress” with expanding its Sonic Lift-Off technology to silicon carbide wafers and devices over the past few months.
Crystal Sonic’s target customers include semiconductor material suppliers, device manufacturers and equipment manufacturers.
Last year, Crystal Sonic moved into Connect Labs by Wexford, on the fifth floor of the 850 PBC building, part of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, a 30-acre life sciences innovation district in downtown Phoenix.
