The global race in the semiconductor industry welcomes a new contender: Substrate, a San Francisco–based startup aiming to revolutionize the way chips are manufactured. Founded in 2022 by James Proud, the company has raised $100 million in its first funding round, led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, with participation from General Catalyst and In-Q-Tel, the venture fund affiliated with the CIA.
Substrate’s stated goal is to challenge the dominance of ASML, the Dutch company that currently holds a global monopoly in the production of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, a technology essential for manufacturing the world’s most advanced chips. According to James Proud, Substrate’s proprietary technology, which leverages X-ray lithography, will enable the production of 2-nanometer wafers at costs up to ten times lower than traditional methods, reducing the price of a single silicon wafer from around $100,000 to approximately $10,000.
Substrate claims to have developed an innovative machine that utilizes particle acceleration to etch microscopic circuits onto silicon wafers. According to James Proud, this technology is expected to be more efficient, precise, and cost-effective than the massive and expensive systems produced by ASML, whose equipment can cost over $400 million per unit, the result of decades of research and development.
The startup’s ambitions go beyond designing semiconductor manufacturing equipment, Substrate aims to become a fully integrated producer, establishing U.S.-based foundries capable of competing directly with TSMC, the Taiwanese industry giant. This initiative is closely aligned with Washington’s broader strategy to reduce technological dependence on foreign supply chains, particularly those in Taiwan and China.
Despite the wave of enthusiasm, industry analysts remain cautious. Lithography is among the most complex and advanced technologies ever developed, and ASML has spent decades and billions of dollars refining its EUV systems. Nevertheless, the United States is channeling substantial investments to rebuild a domestic semiconductor supply chain, considered vital for both economic and national security. In this context, Substrate has reportedly initiated discussions with the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and other federal agencies, reflecting the growing government interest in the company’s project.
