Dutch AI inference chipmaker Axelera AI raises $250M

The startup has raised more than $450m in total to date.

Axelera AI makes chips and software for inference, the computing process of running an AI model, as opposed to training an AI model, which has become increasingly important as more enterprises embrace AI.

The startup's chips are designed for use locally on edge devices, such as mobile phones, as it looks to make AI more energy efficient by processing data directly on devices rather than in the cloud.

The startup said the funding represented the largest ever by an EU AI semiconductor firm. It said it had 500 customers across industries such as defence, agritech and robotics.

The startup has raised more than $450m in total to date.

Axelera AI makes chips and software for inference, the computing process of running an AI model, as opposed to training an AI model, which has become increasingly important as more enterprises embrace AI.

The startup's chips are designed for use locally on edge devices, such as mobile phones, as it looks to make AI more energy efficient by processing data directly on devices rather than in the cloud.

The startup said the funding represented the largest ever by an EU AI semiconductor firm. It said it had 500 customers across industries such as defence, agritech and robotics.