NextGO Epi
A Berlin spin-off of the Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung commercialising materials for high-voltage power electronics.
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Podcast Episode
🎙️ Deep Dive
Nopan, Prolo, NextGO Epi — €7.2 million in payments, £4.2 million for construction and €2 million in semiconductors — Daily News July 14, 2026
Listen to the episodeAbout NextGO Epi
Founded in April 2025 by Ta-Shun Chou, Andreas Popp and Andreas Fiedler, NextGO Epi is a spin-off from the Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ) in Berlin and Europe's only producer of gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) epitaxial wafers at industrial quality. The company develops and sells wafers up to 4 inches using MOVPE (metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy), building on more than a decade of IKZ research. Gallium oxide enables power devices with properties superior to silicon carbide for certain high-voltage applications. The wafers are used in electric vehicle charging, renewable energy inverters, data-centre power distribution and industrial and security applications. In July 2026 the company raised €2 million in a pre-seed round led by Vireo Ventures, with Ultratech Capital Partners, IBB Ventures and Boris Habets participating.
The Story
Spun out of IKZ in April 2025 by Ta-Shun Chou, Andreas Popp and Andreas Fiedler to commercialise more than a decade of gallium oxide research.
How NextGO Epi works
Business Model
B2B production and sale of semiconductor materials to power device manufacturers and research institutions.
Revenue Model
Sales of epitaxial wafers and industrial collaborations; financial details not disclosed.
Products & Services
Key Products
- Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) epitaxial wafers (up to 4 inches, MOVPE)
Core Use Cases
- Electric vehicle charging
- Renewable energy inverters
- Data center power supply
- Grid electronics
- Industrial and defense systems
Market & Clients
Key Customers
Gallium oxide power device manufacturers, university research centres and power electronics companies.
Geographic Presence
How NextGO Epi competes
Competitive Advantages
- Only European producer of gallium oxide epitaxial wafers at industrial quality
- Technology from over a decade of IKZ research
- 20+ active industrial collaborations
How NextGO Epi grows
Growth Strategy
Scale the product, expand the team and strengthen international commercial presence.
Distribution Model
Direct sales and collaborations with industrial customers and research institutions.
Moat (Defensibility)
MOVPE process, IKZ-derived patents, crystal growth expertise and collaboration network.
Regulatory Context
Operates in the European strategic semiconductor supply chain; subject to export controls on strategic materials.
Key Risks
- Long industrial qualification timelines
- International competition in semiconductor materials
- Technical risk in production scale-up
- Gallium oxide still in early adoption as a standard material
Funding & Investors
Total Funding
Funding Rounds
- 2026 - Pre-seed: €2M
Lead: Vireo Ventures
Key Investors
Founding Team
Founders
Key Metrics
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Read AnalysisSources
- Europe's only gallium-oxide semiconductor producer raises €2M — Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung
- NextGO Epi raises €2m for gallium oxide wafers — eeNews Europe