K1 Semiconductor Wins at UIUC’s Tech Startup Challenge
July 25, 2025 K1 Semiconductor won 2nd place at the inaugural Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge, securing $50,000 in funding for our revolutionary semiconductor wafer-splitting innovation that’s reshaping how chips are made. Held on July 22, 2025, as part of the TechChicago Capital Summit powered by P33, the challenge brought together some of the most promising innovators in quantum computing, cybersecurity, AI, and sustainability from around the world. In addition to the $50,000 cash prize, K1 Semiconductor was also awarded: Redefining Semiconductor Manufacturing At K1, we’re developing a platform technology that enables up to 20x semiconductor wafer reuse across high-performance materials. Our tech drastically improves material efficiency and reduces costs for chipmakers, unlocking new frontiers for industries including AI infrastructure, mobility, clean energy, industrial automation, and defense. “It’s an honor to be selected as the second-place winner out of more than 110 applicants from 35+ top national and international universities,” said Connor Horn, Co-founder and CEO of K1 Semiconductor. “This recognition reinforces our belief that the future depends on advanced semiconductors and marks another step forward in our journey from academic research in lab to commercial deployment and real-world impact.” K1 Accelerating Toward Scalable Impact With support from world-class partners and the momentum of a growing network, we’re moving into the next phase of development: scaling our wafer-splitting platform and collaborating with private and public-sector partners to drive adoption across the semiconductor supply chain. We’re deeply grateful to the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Research Park, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the broader TechChicago and P33 communities for their support in making this possible. We’re proud of what we’re building and even more energized for what’s ahead.
K1 Takes Stage at UChicago Tech Ventures Demo Day
July 21, 2025 K1 Semiconductor pitched at the University of Chicago Tech Ventures Demo Day, hosted at Google Chicago as part of TechChicago Week. The event, organized by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, brought together 21 deep tech startups from across the Midwest — each addressing some of the world’s most complex technological challenges. From quantum computing to cleantech, artificial intelligence, and data science, the diversity of innovation on display was both energizing and inspiring. Connor Horn, Co-founder and CEO of K1 Semiconductor, presented how K1 is reimagining chip manufacturing through a novel wafer-splitting platform that enables up to 20x wafer reuse. This breakthrough has the potential to significantly improve the sustainability, scalability, and cost-efficiency of advanced semiconductor production — a critical leap forward as global demand for chips continues to surge. K1’s technology garnered significant attention in a room filled with investors, corporate partners, and ecosystem leaders. More than just a showcase, the event was a testament to the strength of the Midwest’s deep tech community and the value of collaboration in scaling scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions. We’re grateful to the Polsky Center, Google Chicago, and all the organizers, mentors, and attendees who made the day a success. It’s an honor to be among a cohort of founders building long-term, high-impact ventures. As we continue to develop our platform and engage with partners across the semiconductor value chain, today’s pitch marks a key step in our journey — and a reflection of what’s possible when science, engineering, and entrepreneurship come together.
K1 Presents at Deep Tech Demo Day in San Francisco
June 23, 2025 K1 Semiconductor pitched at the inaugural Deep Tech Demo Day hosted by Pear VC in San Francisco, as part of the SF Deep Tech Week, alongside 26 incredible startups from University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Northwestern University. The private, invite-only demo day brought together nearly 175 Bay Area investors to hear pitches from startups working across cleantech, AI, robotics, quantum, and more, at Pear VC in San Francisco. The event took place during SF Deep Tech Week, which draws thousands of founders, investors, researchers, and industry leaders and also featured a Fireside Chat with Andrew Ferguson, Head of Databricks Ventures, and Ce Zhang, CTO of Together AI, an SF-based AI company recently valued at $3.3 billion. Explore all the participating startups and learn more about the event.
K1 Semiconductor Meets Japanese Tech Delegation to Illinois
June 10, 2025 JETRO organized a Japanese quantum tech delegation to Illinois for a 3-day visit to deepen U.S.–Japan collaboration in June 2025. Co-organized with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Intersect Illinois, World Business Chicago, and the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, the tour featured visits to the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago, Hyde Park Labs, and Argonne National Laboratory, and presentations from local startups including EeroQ Quantum Hardware , InfleQtion, K1 Semiconductor, memQ, PsiQuantum, qBraid, and STAC12. The visit concluded with JETRO’s Quantum Innovation Exchange J-Bridge event at mHUB , where U.S. and Japanese companies pitched cutting-edge technologies. Team K1 pitched at the Quantum Innovation Exchange, hosted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) at mHUB in Chicago. Our team led by Co-founder and CEO, Connor Horn presented the current state of the semiconductor industry and how K1’s breakthrough technology can unlock innovation. We look forward to continue building momentum and relationship with our partners both within the U.S. and abroad.
Team K1 Wins at Chicago Booth’s New Venture Challenge
June 5, 2025 In the 29th Annual Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) on June 5, 2025, a record-breaking more than $2.2 million was awarded to the 10 finalists teams. The 10 teams competing in the finals were selected from 25 teams that participated in the classroom portion of the NVC, which consists of a credit-bearing spring quarter course. Judges and additional investors awarded $2.267 million to the ten finalist teams at the 29th Annual Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC). “It was an extremely competitive year. We had seven teams that we considered for first place during the deliberations…” said Steven Kaplan, Neubauer Family Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Kessenich E.P. Faculty Director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “This year’s startups were some of the strongest yet – and at more than $2.2 million, it’s the most we’ve ever awarded, but it’s also the most ever awarded in any university-based business plan competition in the world,” added Mark Tebbe, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Chicago Booth and entrepreneur-in-residence at the Polsky Center. The finalists represented a diverse group of startups. They presented their business plans to a judging panel made up of nearly 30 investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, many of them Booth alumni, who deliberated behind closed doors before announcing the winners. K1 Semiconductor, an early-stage deep tech startup which provides a breakthrough wafer processing service that enhances the efficiency and economics of advanced chip manufacturing, won second place and $668,000. K1’s proprietary wafer-splitting platform technology enables up to 20x wafer reuse and works across a range of high-performance semiconductor materials, powering the future of mobility, clean energy, industrial automation, defense, and AI infrastructure. *Included in the prize total, K1 Semiconductor also was awarded the Moonshot Prize ($25,000), which is awarded to a team whose unique technology is catalyzing innovative solutions to global challenges. Investments in the top three teams were made in part from the Purcell Ventures Investment Award, which was established following a $2 million gift from Greg and Francine Purcell in 2022. The NVC Finals was held in person at Chicago Booth’s Harper Center and included Booth students, members of the public, mentors, advisors, faculty, staff, and investors. The NVC pioneered business school venture competitions when it held its first finals in 1997 with a $20,000 investment pool. It has since graduated more than 200 companies still in operation today, including nationally known brands such as Grubhub, Braintree/Venmo, Simple Mills, and Tovala, that have gone on to raise more than $1.5 billion in funding and achieve more than $11.6 billion in exits.
