Kneron Inc., an up-and-coming AI chip startup, is in discussions to secure $300 million in funding, potentially valuing the Taiwanese-American company at around $1 billion. This latest round comes as Kneron looks to expand its footprint, including plans to establish a regional office and research lab in Saudi Arabia.
While details about the investors participating in this round remain under wraps, Kneron has previously attracted attention and funding from notable firms like Qualcomm Ventures, Sequoia Capital China (now HongShan), and tech giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., as well as Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing’s Horizons Ventures.
This funding round is expected to be Kneron’s last before its anticipated public offering, tentatively slated for 2025. The company has signed a non-binding letter of intent to list on the Nasdaq via a special purpose acquisition company, Spark I Acquisition Corp., backed by investor SparkLabs Group.
Kneron, founded in 2015 by former Qualcomm engineer Albert Liu, is making waves in the AI space by developing processors that power various consumer devices, including surveillance cameras and electric cars, all while maintaining functionality without relying on internet connectivity or cloud systems. The company’s versatile neural processing unit (NPU) allows for modular design, enabling efficient support for diverse applications, from edge devices to data centers.
As Kneron prepares for its upcoming funding round and potential IPO, it joins a growing list of AI startups capitalizing on the booming edge AI market. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, this sector could exceed the size of the cloud-based AI market by the end of 2032, making it a promising arena for innovation and investment.
Kneron’s chips, manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., are already in use in Hon Hai’s electric vehicles and South Korean firm Hanwha Vision’s surveillance technology. With a focus on expanding its capabilities and geographical reach, Kneron is poised to become a key player in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates as Kneron embarks on this exciting new chapter in its growth story!

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