Samsung supports Korean AI chip firm Rebellions pre-IPO

Industry Insights from next Move Strategy Consulting

South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions has secured investment from tech giant Samsung and is now aiming to raise up to $200 million in a new funding round ahead of its planned public listing, the company’s management told CNBC.

Rebellions Targets $200M After Sapeon Merger, Backed by Samsung

Following its merger with fellow South Korean startup Sapeon last year, Rebellions is emerging as a potential domestic rival to Nvidia. The company is currently seeking between $150 million and $200 million in new funding, Chief Financial Officer Sungkyue Shin told CNBC. Shin confirmed that Samsung's recent investment is part of the ongoing round, though he declined to disclose the exact amount.

Rebellions Prepares to Launch Second-Gen AI Chip ‘Rebel’ with Samsung

Rebellions is collaborating with Samsung to bring its second-generation AI chip, known as Rebel, to market. Samsung, which operates a chip foundry business, will manufacture the chips. Four Rebel units will be combined to create the Rebel-Quad—Rebellions’ flagship product set for release later this year, according to a company spokesperson.

The current funding round will help support ongoing product development. Rebellions is in the testing phase for the Rebel chip, which is expected to enter mass production through Samsung.

“Initial results have been very promising,” Rebellions CEO Sunghyun Park told CNBC.

Samsung Builds Rebellions’ AI Chips Using Advanced 4nm Process

• Samsung is producing Rebellions’ AI semiconductors using its cutting-edge 4-nanometer (nm) manufacturing process.

• This process is considered one of the most advanced in chipmaking, comparable to the 4nm process used by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) for Nvidia's latest Blackwell chips.

• Rebellions' chips will integrate High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), a stacked memory technology essential for handling large-scale data workloads.

• The startup has not yet finalized its HBM supplier.

Samsung Eyes Growth in Chipmaking with Rebellions, Tesla Deals

Samsung is actively working to strengthen its chipmaking division. Recently, Samsung Electronics secured a $16.5 billion contract to supply semiconductors to Tesla.

If Rebellions succeeds in attracting a strong customer base, it could become a significant client for Samsung’s foundry business, further boosting the tech giant’s semiconductor ambitions.

Conclusion

As Rebellions accelerates its product development and funding efforts, its collaboration with Samsung positions it as a formidable contender in the AI chip landscape.

Source: CNBC World

Prepared by: Next Move Strategy Consulting