Etched logo
AI/ML
Hardware/Robotics

Etched

Custom hardware solutions for AI inference

CORE INFO

$800M
Total Funding
Series B
Round
2022
Founded
400+
Team Size
San Jose, California, United States
Headquarters

Etched is a semiconductor startup that develops custom hardware solutions specifically designed for AI inference, focusing on transformer-based models to enhance performance and efficiency for large language models.

  • Etched raised $500 million in a Series B funding round, achieving a $5 billion post-money valuation.techcrunch.com
  • The company has secured over $1 billion in customer contracts, highlighting strong market demand for its AI hardware solutions.globenewswire.com
  • TechCrunch reported on Etched's emergence from stealth, noting its significant funding and customer contracts.techcrunch.com

WHY WE WOULD WORK AT ETCHED

Innovative Technology

Join a team pioneering transformer-specific ASICs that enhance AI inference efficiency, delivering high throughput and low latency for large language models.

Strong Financial Backing

Benefit from working at a well-funded startup with $800 million raised, including a recent $500 million Series B round, ensuring stability and growth.

Impactful Mission

Contribute to advancing AI infrastructure, making inference faster, cheaper, and more accessible, ultimately benefiting humanity through cutting-edge technology.

Dynamic Team Culture

Collaborate with over 400 talented professionals in a fast-paced environment that values innovation, creativity, and teamwork.

Proven Success

Be part of a company that has secured over $1 billion in customer contracts, showcasing strong market demand and validation for its products.

Career Growth Opportunities

Experience rapid career advancement in a startup that has achieved first-pass silicon success within three years, positioning itself as a leader in the AI hardware industry.

MARKET AND TRACTION

KEY METRICS

✦ KEY METRIC
  • Total funding raised: $800 million across multiple funding rounds.

  • Over $1 billion in customer contracts secured, indicating strong market demand for Etched's products.

  • Team size has grown to over 400 employees as of June 2026, reflecting rapid expansion and scaling efforts.
  • GROWTH TACTICS

  • Successfully raised $500 million in a Series B funding round at a $5 billion post-money valuation, attracting notable investors.

  • Established a factory in Taiwan and built a data center, test house, and NPI prototyping lab in San Jose to support large-scale production.

  • Focused on developing a transformer-specific ASIC to enhance AI inference efficiency, positioning itself as a leader in the AI hardware market.
  • MARKET POSITION

  • Positioned as a key player in the AI hardware industry, specifically targeting AI inference workloads for transformer-based models.

  • Competing directly with established players like Nvidia by offering specialized hardware solutions that improve throughput and reduce latency.

  • Committed to advancing AI infrastructure, making inference processes faster, cheaper, and more accessible for various applications.
  • NOTABLE CUSTOMERS

  • Secured contracts exceeding $1 billion, showcasing significant interest from various clients in the AI and semiconductor sectors.

  • The customer base includes companies looking to leverage advanced AI capabilities through optimized hardware solutions.

  • Specific customer names were not disclosed, but the contracts indicate a strong validation of Etched's technology in the market.
  • COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

  • Unique focus on transformer-specific ASIC technology, which is designed to deliver high throughput and low latency for large language models.

  • Utilizes innovative architectures like Low Voltage Inference (LVI) and Cluster Scale Memory (CSM) to enhance performance and efficiency.

  • Rapid development cycle demonstrated by achieving first-pass silicon success within three years of seed funding, showcasing engineering excellence.
  • PRODUCT AND TECH

    Transformer ASIC

    Etched's flagship product, the Sohu Chip, is a transformer-specific application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed to optimize performance for large language models (LLMs), delivering high throughput and low latency for AI inference workloads.

    Low Voltage Inference

    This architecture operates math blocks at reduced voltage, enhancing the density of floating-point operations per second (FLOPs) and improving power efficiency, which is crucial for scaling AI inference capabilities.

    Cluster Scale Memory

    A shared memory pool that enhances memory access speeds and reduces latency across the scale-up domain, enabling more efficient processing of AI workloads and improving overall system performance.

    AI Inference Solutions

    Etched focuses on providing custom hardware solutions specifically tailored for AI inference workloads, making AI processes faster, cheaper, and more accessible for various industries.

    Production Capabilities

    With a factory established in Taiwan and a data center at their San Jose headquarters, Etched is equipped to support large-scale production of their innovative AI hardware solutions.

    COMPANY CULTURE

    Values

  • Commitment to advancing AI infrastructure

  • Focus on efficiency and accessibility in AI inference

  • Innovation through collaboration and co-design

  • Integrity in customer relationships and contracts

  • Passion for technology and its impact on humanity
  • Operating Principles

  • Emphasis on high throughput and low latency in product development

  • Agile and iterative approach to technology advancement

  • Data-driven decision making in all aspects of operations

  • Continuous improvement in processes and products
  • Benefits

  • Competitive compensation packages

  • Opportunities for professional development and growth

  • Collaborative and inclusive work environment

  • Access to cutting-edge technology and resources
  • Team Cadence

  • Regular team meetings to align on goals and progress

  • Open communication channels across all levels

  • Frequent feedback loops to enhance performance and innovation
  • Learning & Growth

  • Encouragement of continuous learning and skill development

  • Access to training programs and workshops

  • Support for attending industry conferences and events