December 2, 2025
We’re proud to share that our founder, Dr. Connor Horn and Dr. Xella Doi have been recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 – 2026: Manufacturing & Industry, honoring leaders building the products, methods, and materials of tomorrow.
This recognition reflects the depth of scientific rigor, entrepreneurial conviction, and real commercial progress behind K1 Semiconductor’s mission. For us, this milestone isn’t just about recognition. It’s a signal that the semiconductor industry is ready for new approaches that reduce cost, improve sustainability, and unlock technologies that were previously out of reach.
Rethinking How Semiconductor Wafers Are Used
In electronics, producing ultra-thin semiconductor materials is essential but it remains one of the most expensive and labor-intensive steps in manufacturing. As demand grows for higher performance, efficiency, and new materials, these constraints have become increasingly limiting.
K1 Semiconductor was founded to address this challenge. Our team has developed a breakthrough wafer-splitting process that enables a single semiconductor wafer to be sliced into up to 20 ultra-thin layers, dramatically improving material efficiency and lowering the cost of final devices.
This approach makes it economically viable to use advanced materials such as diamond, silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), Indium Phosphide (InP) and lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) — materials with exceptional performance characteristics that have historically been cost-prohibitive and difficult to manufacture with at scale.
From Scientific Research to Commercial Reality
K1’s technology is built on years of foundational research and engineering development, now advancing toward scalable manufacturing.
We are collaborating with industry partners to validate performance, reliability, and economic impact across multiple semiconductor applications, translating deep science into real-world manufacturing solutions.
Building What’s Next
The Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition marks an important milestone, but it’s only one step in a much longer journey. At K1 Semiconductor, our focus remains on improving the efficiency and economics of semiconductor manufacturing, and enabling the next generation of electronic, photonic, and power devices.
We’re excited about what lies ahead and grateful to the partners, advisors, and supporters who are helping us push the boundaries of what’s possible to unlock innovation across industries and drive human progress.