Skycore Raises €5M to Revolutionize AI Data Centers
Semiconductors, AI Infrastructure
Denmark’s Skycore Semiconductors secures €5M seed round to commercialize breakthrough Power ICs enabling ultra-efficient 800V HVDC power architectures in next-generation AI data centers.
Skycore Semiconductors, a Denmark-based fabless startup, has raised €5 million in a seed funding round led by Balnord, with participation from APEX Ventures, First Momentum, and Mätch VC. The company had previously raised €2.5 million in early funding and grants, bringing its total funding to €7.5 million. The latest round will accelerate Skycore’s push to deliver the next generation of Power Integrated Circuit (IC) solutions critical for scaling AI data centers beyond the current power limitations.
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As the demands of AI-driven compute workloads soar, traditional 54V data center power architectures are reaching their physical limits. High-power AI systems are now routinely exceeding 200 kW per rack, stressing copper busbars and legacy power distribution systems. Skycore’s proprietary Power IC technology offers a solution: 800V High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) architectures that can efficiently support these escalating power requirements while shrinking the physical and thermal footprint.
Skycore’s platform delivers extreme power density and efficiency in compact, flat form factors, addressing one of the most pressing bottlenecks in modern compute infrastructure. The startup’s silicon-validated technology is already backed by six patent families, with early prototypes demonstrating readiness for scale. These chips serve as the core building blocks of 800V HVDC data center power infrastructure—key to unlocking higher compute density and sustainability in AI operations.
“Skycore’s capacitor-based power chips are the core building blocks of that 800-volt architecture. What I really like about Skycore is how unobvious combinations can lead to real breakthroughs,” said Jarek Pilarczyk, Operating Partner at Balnord. “The fusion of power electronics and chip design expertise at DTU [Technical University of Denmark] has unlocked a new class of semiconductor technology.”
The new funding will be used to:
Expand Skycore’s technical and business development teams
Accelerate product development and manufacturing scale-up
Strengthen the patent portfolio
Build a robust supply chain
Launch co-development projects with strategic industry partners
CEO and co-founder Pere Llimós Muntal emphasizes the broader shift:
“Scaling today’s AI compute infrastructure requires a fundamental change in how data centers are powered, and 800V HVDC is the first step on that path. Our Power IC platform is inherently scalable to meet future power demands. This funding enables us to accelerate market entry—from validated silicon to full commercial readiness.”
Skycore’s focus aligns with larger industry trends. Tech giants like Nvidia, Google, and Tesla are actively exploring or already piloting 800V HVDC in data center environments. The limitations of 54V power are prompting a full-stack rethink of power delivery—from semiconductors and converters to cooling systems and rack design. Skycore aims to be at the center of this transition.
The company is already part of the Open Compute Project (OCP), the global community redesigning hardware infrastructure for efficient computing at scale, and is also a member of the Berkeley Power & Energy Center (BPEC) at the University of California, alongside leading industry players. Previous investors include Morph Capital and Danish entrepreneur Thorbjørn Rønje, who helped fund Skycore’s early R&D and university spin-out phase.
Currently an eight-person team, Skycore plans modest but strategic hiring while doubling down on commercialization of its Power ICs. Its go-to-market roadmap includes co-development partnerships, pilot integrations in AI facilities, and licensing options for power hardware manufacturers. Looking ahead, Skycore’s vision is to become the global leader in Power ICs for HVDC architectures—not just for AI data centers, but for any industry segment demanding scalable, high-efficiency power conversion, including edge compute, electric aviation, and autonomous systems.
