Atomico invests in Lace Lithography – aims to challenge next-gen chip production

Venture capital firm Atomico is leading a $40 million investment round in semiconductor company Lace Lithography, which is developing a new type of lithography technology for chip production. The round, led by Atomico, also includes participation from M12, Linse Capital, SETT, Nysnø, and existing investors. Since its founding two years ago, Lace has raised over $60 million. The funds will be invested in a technology aimed at addressing the growing challenges in semiconductor manufacturing, where today's light-based lithography is approaching its physical limits. Lace is developing an alternative method that replaces light with helium atoms to create patterns on silicon, promising significantly better resolution—up to ten times higher than today's most advanced systems—at a fraction of the cost, energy consumption, and complexity. The company aims to have a pilot chip production facility ready by 2029