South Korean AI-based semiconductor design and process optimization company AXION has raised $1.5 million (KRW 2 billion) in seed funding just four months after its establishment. The funding round was co-led by LinkBricks Ventures and Betterground.  

Founded in July 2024, AXION specializes in developing semiconductor design and process optimization solutions powered by AI technology. The company has drawn industry attention for its team of experts from global semiconductor leaders, including Intel, Samsung Electronics, and Synopsys.  

CEO Kim Ki-seop, a semiconductor expert with a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has held executive and research positions at Intel, Samsung Electronics, and Synopsys. He has received prestigious industry awards such as the IEEE Richard Newton Award, Don O. Pederson Award, and Intel Achievement Award.  

Despite being a newly founded startup, AXION achieved venture certification in August 2024 and was recognized as a “First Penguin” company by the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT) for its technological innovation. The founding team also includes top industry professionals such as Dr. Song Dae-geon and Dr. Kim Joo-ho, who are driving rapid progress in technology development.  

LinkBricks Ventures’ Co-CEOs Ji Yoon-sung and Kim Sang-kyu said, “AXION is an innovative company led by a team with world-class expertise and experience. Its AI-driven semiconductor optimization solutions have tremendous growth potential in the global market.”  

CEO Kim Ki-seop commented, “This investment will accelerate the development of our core technologies and prepare us for entry into global markets. We aim to become a leading provider of world-class AI-based semiconductor design solutions.”