World’s First Gallium-Oxide Chip Maker PowerCubeSemi Prepares 2026 KOSDAQ IPO Listing After $4.4M Investment – KoreaTechDesk
Amid Korea’s renewed semiconductor expansion drive, PowerCubeSemi’s move toward a 2026 KOSDAQ listing has captured investor attention. Backed by KRW 6 billion in fresh pre-IPO funding, the world’s first gallium-oxide semiconductor manufacturer is positioning itself at the frontier of next-generation chip materials — a space critical to both Korea’s deep-tech competitiveness and the global post-silicon transition.
PowerCubeSemi Secures ₩6 Billion Pre-IPO Funding Ahead of KOSDAQ Filing
PowerCubeSemi announced the completion of a KRW 6 billion (~USD 4.4 million) pre-IPO funding round, setting the stage for a preliminary KOSDAQ listing review in early 2026.
The round drew participation from KDB Capital, KB Securities, Kakao Pay Securities, and Sopoong Ventures, while Hana Ventures, an existing shareholder, joined through a follow-on investment.
Founded in 2013, PowerCubeSemi specializes in compound semiconductor devices based on silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), and gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃). The company operates the world’s first dedicated gallium-oxide mass-production fab, now collaborating with multiple global clients seeking high-efficiency power and RF solutions.
In July 2025, PowerCubeSemi received an A-grade rating in its technology evaluation, meeting the KOSDAQ’s requirements for technology-special listing qualification. The firm plans to submit its official application to the Korea Exchange in January 2026.
Gallium Oxide and Korea’s Deep-Tech Investment Wave
Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) has emerged as one of the most promising materials in the compound-semiconductor sector, offering far higher breakdown voltage and energy efficiency than traditional silicon.
As industries demand more efficient power management chips — spanning electric vehicles, data centers, and defense electronics — Ga₂O₃ is becoming a key battleground in the global deep-tech race.
PowerCubeSemi’s milestone comes at a time when Korea’s government is prioritizing semiconductor self-reliance and next-generation materials R&D, integrating such projects into national growth-fund and advanced-industry portfolios.
Investors view the company’s gallium-oxide expertise as complementary to Korea’s broader ambitions to expand beyond memory-chip dominance into strategic compound-semiconductor leadership.
Korea’s growing policy emphasis on R&D-centered growth further amplifies the significance of PowerCubeSemi’s trajectory. The government’s 2026 budget expands R&D funding for SMEs and technology ventures, reinforcing collaborative research and commercialization programs.
While PowerCubeSemi’s pre-IPO funding is privately sourced, the company’s advancement itself mirrors how private investment and national R&D priorities are beginning to converge — signaling a more coordinated model for deep-tech acceleration.
PowerCubeSemi Investor and Company Statements
CEO Kang Tae-young expressed confidence in the company’s next phase of growth, stating:
“We will do our utmost to complete a successful listing and reward our investors for their confidence in our vision.”
Industry participants noted that the investor lineup — blending policy-driven institutions such as KDB Capital with private-sector entities like KB and Kakao Pay Securities — reflects growing alignment between public capital and deep-tech commercialization pathways.
A Signal for Korea’s Semiconductor Diversification
PowerCubeSemi’s trajectory signals more than a single IPO case. It reflects a broader shift in Korea’s venture and capital-market pipeline toward materials- and device-level innovation, areas historically overshadowed by fabless design and consumer-tech ventures.
The company’s progress also reinforces how KOSDAQ’s technology-special listing system continues to function as an alternative growth route for R&D-intensive startups, reducing reliance on profitability metrics and emphasizing verified technological differentiation.
As the semiconductor industry braces for global restructuring, PowerCubeSemi’s gallium-oxide production capacity positions Korea to secure a niche in the post-silicon materials economy, complementing ongoing national investments in SiC, GaN, and AI-centric chip infrastructure.
Toward a New Era of Deep-Tech Commercialization
PowerCubeSemi’s forthcoming IPO underscores how Korea’s startup ecosystem is maturing toward high-value industrial innovation, not merely software or platform scaling. The case could encourage both domestic and foreign investors to re-evaluate Korea’s deep-tech prospects as global demand for power-efficient chips accelerates.
If successful, PowerCubeSemi’s KOSDAQ debut may mark a defining step in Korea’s evolution from semiconductor manufacturer to materials innovator, strengthening the country’s long-term claim in the next era of global chipmaking.
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