AlpSemi raises EUR €17m to scale solid-state breakers

AlpSemi has raised €17 million to expand production and sales of semiconductor power switches for solid-state circuit breakers. Yotta Capital led the round, with backing from SE Ventures, Navitas Semiconductor and Cycle Group.

The Grenoble-based startup will use the money to industrialise its switching technology for residential and commercial buildings, as well as 800V direct current systems for AI data centres.

Solid-state circuit breakers use semiconductor switches instead of the electromechanical components found in conventional breakers. AlpSemi is targeting a part of the electricity system that has changed little for decades, as operators and equipment makers seek ways to manage rising power demand, tighter efficiency requirements and greater digital control over networks.

The company has already introduced its first product, AS800, for solid-state miniature circuit breakers in 110V and 230V settings. It plans to expand commercial deployment of the product while extending its roadmap towards higher-voltage systems.

That next stage includes 800V DC power protection for AI data centres, an area drawing growing interest across the power electronics sector. Data centre operators are exploring alternatives to traditional power architectures as they look to reduce conversion losses and simplify distribution for increasingly power-hungry computing loads.

Frédéric Dupont, Chief Executive Officer of AlpSemi, set out the company's aims for the financing round.

"This financing positions AlpSemi to emerge as a leading global industrial player in power electronics," said Frédéric Dupont, Chief Executive Officer of AlpSemi. "Our ambition is clear: accelerate the semiconductor roadmap required to enable the large-scale deployment of solid-state circuit breakers. In doing so, we are contributing to safer, smarter and more efficient power protection and conversion architectures globally."

AlpSemi's development model spans materials, devices and systems in what it describes as a vertically integrated approach to designing and producing its switching platform. It says this allows it to address performance, manufacturability and system integration together rather than in separate stages.

Fabrice Letertre, the company's Chief Technology Officer, said the strategy was intended to move the market beyond small design changes.

"Our end-to-end engineering approach allows us to move beyond incremental improvements and fundamentally redefine power protection technologies," said Fabrice Letertre. "Our wide and ultra-wide bandgap technologies are inherently scalable across the entire semiconductor value chain, enabling a fast solid-state circuit breaker market development."

Investor backing

The investor group reflects interest from both financial and industrial backers in technologies linked to electrification and grid management. Yotta Capital led the round, joined by SE Ventures, Navitas Semiconductor and Cycle Group.

Vincent Deltrieu of Yotta Capital linked the investment to growing pressure on electricity systems from electrified buildings, industrial equipment and AI infrastructure.

"The rapid electrification of buildings, AI infrastructure and industrial systems is driving demand for smarter, highly scalable power protection," said Vincent Deltrieu, Managing Partner at Yotta Capital. "AlpSemi uniquely addresses this transition with a breakthrough semiconductor platform designed for industrial deployment at scale. The company sits at the intersection of next-generation electrical infrastructure, efficiency, and semiconductor innovation, fully aligned with our investment strategy focused on low-carbon industrial enablers."

SE Ventures, which is tied to Schneider Electric, pointed to the role of digital control in power distribution.

"The large-scale adoption of solid-state circuit breakers is critical to achieving full digitization of electrical distribution," said Grégoire Viasnoff, Global Head of Accelerator at SE Ventures. "AlpSemi exemplifies a new generation of high-potential industrial startups combining deep semiconductor innovation with strong market pull. This is precisely where SE Ventures focuses, supporting companies that accelerate the transformation of energy management systems and unlock tangible commercial synergies with Schneider Electric."

Data centre push

Navitas Semiconductor's involvement also underlines the link between advanced semiconductors and new data centre power designs. Operators are under pressure to support larger AI workloads, sharpening scrutiny of how electricity is converted, distributed and protected inside facilities.

Chris Allexandre, Chief Executive Officer of Navitas Semiconductor, said the shift was creating demand for different protection systems.

"As AI data centers transition toward 800V DC power systems, the need for higher power density, improved power conversion efficiency, and advanced protection becomes critical," said Chris Allexandre, Chief Executive Officer of Navitas Semiconductor. "AlpSemi is developing a differentiated technology platform specifically designed to address these future requirements, enabling the next generation of intelligent power distribution in high-growth, energy-intensive environments. We look forward to supporting the company as both an investor and a strategic partner in its next phase of growth."

For AlpSemi, the fundraise provides backing to move from an early product launch to broader manufacturing and commercial deployment. Its immediate focus is on scaling the AS800 and extending the same core technology to higher-voltage applications in buildings and AI data centres.