Amously, a startup based in South Korea developing ‘AMIE,’ an automated solution for semiconductor manufacturing processes, has secured seed funding from FuturePlay and TheVentures. The investment amount remains undisclosed.

Launched in May of this year through SK Hynix’s in-house venture program, HiGarage, Amously is set to revolutionize semiconductor manufacturing by implementing Advanced Process Control (APC) technology. This technology aims to manage manufacturing processes with precision akin to autonomous driving.

CEO Seung-chun Cho, a UC Berkeley alum, specialized in CMP process modeling, a critical semiconductor manufacturing process. He has spearheaded process control and manufacturing innovations at global manufacturing firms such as Hanwha, Corning, and SK Hynix.

‘AMIE’ adjusts semiconductor equipment recipes on a wafer-by-wafer basis, ensuring consistent quality and enabling up to a 10% yield improvement for clients. Given that a 1% yield improvement can generate hundreds of millions in economic benefits, ‘AMIE’ is poised to significantly reduce costs and enhance quality for manufacturers. Moreover, the solution empowers even novice engineers to perform at expert levels, addressing labor shortages and maximizing manufacturing efficiency.

Kim Chul-woo, CEO of TheVentures, commented, “Given Korea’s strong competitive edge in the semiconductor industry, there are significant opportunities for industrial AI startups.” He added, “The ongoing industrial transformation with AI and robotics across various manufacturing sectors highlights Amously’s potential for growth, given their expertise in data, AI, and internal processes.”

Cho Seung-chun stated, “As the global competition for semiconductor dominance intensifies and demand for process engineers exceeds supply, this seed investment will help us develop genuine industrial AI that achieves true automation in semiconductor mass production, based on our profound understanding of the process.”