# K1 Semiconductor

> K1 Semiconductor is a deep tech company pioneering high-performance, compound semiconductor wafers. Contact us!


## Posts

- [K1 Founders Named in Forbes 30u30 - 2026](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-semiconductor-co-founders-named-to-forbes-30-under-30/): 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
- [K1 at Plug and Play’s Silicon Valley Summit](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-presents-at-plug-and-plays-silicon-valley-summit/): November 20, 2025 K1 Semiconductor attended the Plug and Play Tech Center’s Silicon Valley November Summit, a three-day innovation gathering featuring 300+ startups across more than 20 verticals at Plug and Play’s global headquarters in Sunnyvale, California. The summit served as a high-energy culmination of our participation in Plug and Play’s Deep Tech Accelerator, bringing months of technical development and market validation into direct engagement with strategic partners, industry leaders, and deeptech investors. Presenting K1 Semiconductor’s Breakthrough Technology & Traction As part of the Deeptech and Semiconductor verticals, we presented K1’s breakthrough wafer-splitting platform for advanced semiconductor materials such as
- [K1 Joins Alchemist & Duality Accelerator](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-joins-the-alchemist-and-duality-accelerator/): October 20, 2025 K1 Semiconductor has been selected for the inaugural Alchemist Chicago Cohort, powered by Alchemist Accelerator and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago. We join Alchemist Chicago as part of Duality – the nation’s first quantum startup accelerator. Out of nearly 400 global applicants, only 27 science-driven startups were chosen for their potential to transform cutting-edge research into real-world impact across AI, Biotech, Cleantech, Data Analysis, and Quantum Computing. K1 is proud to represent UChicago and the Midwest deep-tech ecosystem in this pioneering group. About the Alchemist Accelerator The Alchemist Accelerator is
- [K1 Joins Plug and Play’s Deeptech Accelerator](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-semiconductor-joins-plug-and-plays-deeptech-program/): September 25, 2025 K1 Semiconductor has been selected for the Deeptech Accelerator at Plug and Play Tech Center, one of the world’s leading platforms for connecting startups with corporate partners, investors, and industry experts. We are proud to join seven other startups from around the globe developing transformative scientific and engineering breakthroughs. About the Deeptech Accelerator Plug and Play’s DeepTech Program is designed to support breakthrough innovations in areas such as advanced manufacturing, new materials, robotics, quantum, and sustainability. Unlike traditional accelerators, it operates on a no-equity model and focuses on creating pilots, proofs of concept (PoCs), and commercial collaborations
- [K1 Semiconductor Attends ICSCRM 2025 in Busan, Korea](https://k1semiconductor.com/team-k1-at-international-conference-on-silicon-carbide-and-related-materials-icscrm/): September 19, 2025 K1 Semiconductor attended the International Conference on Silicon Carbide and Related Materials (ICSCRM) 2025, held in Busan, Korea. Our CEO, Connor Horn, and CTO, Xella Doi, joined researchers, innovators, and industry leaders from across the globe for this gathering dedicated to advancing semiconductor materials and technologies. A Global Platform for Learning and Collaboration ICSCRM was not just an opportunity to present and connect, but also to learn from the latest breakthroughs in silicon carbide (SiC) and related materials. From technical sessions on wafer innovations and device reliability to discussions on scaling supply chains and manufacturing processes, the
- [K1 Partners With The Chicago Quantum Exchange](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-semiconductor-partners-with-chicago-quantum-exchange/): August 12, 2025 K1 Semiconductor has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) — a leading hub for advancing quantum information science and engineering — becoming part of a world-class corporate network that includes Boeing, IBM, Applied Materials, Toshiba, Microsoft, and other pioneers. “We joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange to help bridge cutting-edge semiconductor materials research with scalable, US-based manufacturing,” said Connor Horn, K1’s co-founder and CEO. “As we commercialize our wafer-reuse technology, we’re excited to collaborate with CQE partners working at the forefront of quantum devices, photonics, and advanced packaging. Chicago’s quantum ecosystem is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation
- [K1 Semiconductor Wins at UIUC's Tech Startup Challenge](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-semiconductor-wins-2nd-place-at-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
- [K1 Takes Stage at UChicago Tech Ventures Demo Day](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-semiconductor-takes-the-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
- [K1 Presents at Deep Tech Demo Day in San Francisco](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-presents-at-sf-deep-tech-week/): 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
- [K1 Semiconductor Meets Japanese Tech Delegation to Illinois](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-semiconductor-presents-at-jetros-quantum-innovation-exchange/): 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
- [Team K1 Wins at Chicago Booth’s New Venture Challenge](https://k1semiconductor.com/k1-semiconductor-wins-second-place-at-chicago-booths-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

## Pages

- [Contact Us](https://k1semiconductor.com/contact-us/): Contact us Email: info@k1semiconductor.com Address: 3440 S Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60616, US
- [Technology](https://k1semiconductor.com/technology/): K1's tech enables reuse of advanced, expensive semiconductor wafers + produces ultra-thin layers to create heterogeneous “engineered” wafers. Learn more!
- [Team](https://k1semiconductor.com/team/): We are a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and business operators on a mission to transform semiconductor manufacturing. Learn more!
- [News](https://k1semiconductor.com/news/): K1 Joins Alchemist & Duality Accelerator Read More K1 Joins Plug and Play’s Deeptech Accelerator Read More K1 Semiconductor Attends ICSCRM 2025 in Korea Read More K1 Partners With The Chicago Quantum Exchange Read More K1 Semiconductor Wins at UIUC’s Tech Startup Challenge Read More K1 Takes Stage at UChicago Tech Ventures Demo Day Read More K1 Presents at Deep Tech Demo Day in San Francisco Read More K1 Semiconductor Meets Japanese Tech Delegation to Illinois Read More Team K1 Wins at Chicago Booth’s New Venture Challenge Read More
- [K1 Semiconductor](https://k1semiconductor.com/): K1 Semiconductor is a deep tech company pioneering high-performance, compound semiconductor wafers. Contact us!


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