SEMIFIVE accelerates global AI chip expansion with Japan subsidiary and new design wins

SEMIFIVE, a Seoul-based leader in platform-driven AI semiconductor design and an upcoming KOSDAQ listing candidate, has sharply accelerated its global expansion strategy by securing a slate of high-value AI chip design projects in Japan and launching a new subsidiary in Tokyo. This move cements SEMIFIVE’s position as a rising force in custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design for the AI and data center markets, placing the company at the heart of Asia’s resurgent semiconductor ecosystem just as investor interest in custom AI silicon reaches fever pitch.

Why is SEMIFIVE’s expansion into Japan seen as a strategic breakthrough for AI chipmakers in Asia?

SEMIFIVE’s new Japan subsidiary represents its sixth global outpost, following recent footprints established in the United States, China, Vietnam, India, and the Czech Republic. The Tokyo launch is both a tactical and symbolic milestone: Japan’s semiconductor renaissance is being driven by aggressive government backing, rapidly expanding demand for high-performance chips, and a determined push to build a robust domestic AI ecosystem. SEMIFIVE’s leadership has positioned this move as an opportunity to deepen collaboration with local innovators, capture fast-growing design mandates from Japanese conglomerates, and turn Tokyo into a springboard for Asia-Pacific AI chip deployments.

According to SEMIFIVE’s co-founder and chief executive Brandon Cho, the company aims to leverage Japan as a strategic hub, amplifying technology leadership and working closely with domestic partners to drive the next wave of AI infrastructure build-out. This aligns closely with Japan’s national ambitions to reclaim semiconductor leadership and plug critical gaps in AI hardware supply chains.

How is SEMIFIVE winning global ASIC projects, and what technologies set it apart in the AI chip design race?

SEMIFIVE’s rapid project wins in Japan are rooted in its recognized expertise in high-performance ASIC design, mastery of advanced process nodes, and proven turnkey solutions for large-die custom chips. The Korean semiconductor platform player is now handling next-generation chip programs that include advanced 3D IC packaging technologies, aiming to boost data processing efficiency and integration density while slashing energy consumption. These capabilities are critical for AI, data center, and edge computing markets, where speed-to-market, power efficiency, and silicon customization are paramount.

Industry experts point to SEMIFIVE’s platform-based SoC (System on Chip) design model as a key differentiator. Unlike traditional design houses, SEMIFIVE offers a ‘one-stop AI ASIC solution’—handling everything from early specifications and logic design to system-level integration, advanced IP pooling, and final mass production. This approach is analogous to the way global players like Broadcom collaborate with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited to secure big tech contracts; SEMIFIVE’s unique advantage is its deep integration with Samsung Foundry as a core Design Solution Partner (DSP), granting it end-to-end control over the most complex, large-die chip designs in the Samsung ecosystem.

Another core asset is SEMIFIVE’s U.S.-based subsidiary, Analog Bits, which internalizes critical low-power mixed-signal IP for analog, sensor, and power management designs. This gives SEMIFIVE the ability to supply differentiated, energy-efficient chip IP to major foundries including Samsung, TSMC, and Intel, and provides customers with an integrated platform for advanced semiconductor projects.

What are SEMIFIVE’s financial trends and how sustainable is its growth model amid industry shifts?

SEMIFIVE’s financials highlight the momentum underpinning its global ambitions. The company’s consolidated order intake jumped from KRW 57 billion in 2022 to KRW 123.8 billion in 2024, a leap of nearly 117 percent. Cumulative orders as of the third quarter of 2025 have already surpassed the previous year’s total, signaling a robust sales pipeline. Revenue has tracked a similar trajectory, rising from KRW 72 billion in 2022 to KRW 111.8 billion in 2024, with preliminary 2025 Q3 revenue expected to exceed KRW 90 billion.

The AI ASIC business model at SEMIFIVE is built around repeatable revenue cycles, as customer projects transition from design to mass production. The company is currently ramping several large-scale chip projects using leading-edge nodes—including 2 nm, 4 nm, 5 nm, 8 nm, and 14 nm processes—many of which are destined for domestic conglomerates and AI accelerator markets with secured captive demand. These programs are projected to enter mass production sequentially, driving further revenue growth into 2026 and beyond.

What is SEMIFIVE’s global customer strategy and how is it performing in the U.S., China, and beyond?

With a client roster of nearly 70 companies, SEMIFIVE has notched a string of overseas project wins in the United States, China, and now Japan, underscoring its emergence as a significant player in the global AI chip supply chain. In the U.S., SEMIFIVE is winning mandates from fabless AI chip startups and OEM device manufacturers seeking faster, more flexible custom silicon for next-generation products. In China, the company is leveraging local partnerships to supply custom ASICs for data center and on-device AI applications, expanding its reach despite increasing trade and regulatory complexity. The Tokyo subsidiary now rounds out a truly global network, enabling SEMIFIVE to pursue major design contracts and build relationships in every leading chip market.

How is SEMIFIVE leveraging R&D and chiplet technology to future-proof its AI semiconductor platform?

R&D remains a core pillar of SEMIFIVE’s strategy. The company is making significant investments to enhance the scalability of its SoC platform, focusing on chiplet-based architectures that allow integration of compute, memory, and specialized accelerators on a single substrate. SEMIFIVE’s recent collaboration with Arm, as an official Arm Total Design (ATD) partner, enables it to develop a ‘Premier’ CPU chiplet platform using Samsung Foundry’s 4nm (SF4X) process technology. Chiplet design is increasingly viewed as the future of high-performance, low-power semiconductor solutions, particularly for AI and data center use cases, where modularity and speed of innovation are vital.

What are the broader industry trends driving SEMIFIVE’s rise, and how is it positioned in the ASIC transformation wave?

The global semiconductor sector is undergoing a structural transformation as Moore’s Law slows and the economics of general-purpose chips become increasingly unfavorable for AI workloads. Demand is rapidly pivoting from off-the-shelf GPUs and CPUs toward custom ASICs designed for highly specific applications. SEMIFIVE’s surge in order volume—from KRW 5.7 billion in 2020 to over KRW 100 billion in 2024—is a direct result of this shift. Industry sentiment attributes SEMIFIVE’s fast rise to its efficient, platform-driven development model, turnkey E2E solutions, and its ability to deliver large-die, high-complexity ASICs for data centers, on-device AI, and edge computing.

Peer comparisons highlight SEMIFIVE’s similarity to global leaders like Broadcom in the U.S. and TSMC in Taiwan, but with a unique Samsung Foundry DSP angle that grants it privileged access to bleeding-edge process nodes and captive customer bases in Asia.

Sentiment analysis and market outlook for SEMIFIVE’s KOSDAQ debut

Institutional sentiment around SEMIFIVE’s upcoming KOSDAQ listing is bullish, with analysts tracking the Korean semiconductor sector pointing to the company’s strong revenue growth, high order backlog, and defensible niche in AI ASIC design as drivers of likely investor interest. While SEMIFIVE is not yet listed, recent activity among listed peers in the custom AI chip segment has shown steady upward movement, driven by the expectation of rising ASIC adoption in AI infrastructure buildouts globally. The combination of rapid top-line growth, stable order intake, and high-profile global project wins positions SEMIFIVE as a potential standout on its public market debut. Investors are expected to closely watch mass production timelines, the ramp-up of 2 nm and 4 nm projects, and any expansion of global client partnerships as key roadmap indicators for 2026.

Expert opinion: Is SEMIFIVE the next breakout in AI chip platform players?

From an expert vantage point, SEMIFIVE looks well-poised to capitalize on two of the semiconductor sector’s biggest trends: the pivot to custom ASICs for AI and the rapid internationalization of design and manufacturing ecosystems. Its unique position in the Samsung Foundry value chain, ownership of high-value analog IP via Analog Bits, and first-mover advantage in the Korean big-die ASIC niche make it a compelling candidate to join the ranks of Asia’s top AI semiconductor exporters. The market will be watching to see if SEMIFIVE can sustain its rapid growth, deepen its R&D partnerships, and translate marquee design wins into recurring, scalable mass production as the AI silicon race heats up worldwide.

What are the most important takeaways from SEMIFIVE’s global expansion and Japan AI chip wins?

• SEMIFIVE has established a new subsidiary in Tokyo, Japan, marking its sixth international location and strengthening its reach in the rapidly growing Japanese semiconductor sector.

• The Korean platform-based AI ASIC specialist has secured multiple high-performance chip design projects in Japan, leveraging its expertise in advanced process nodes and large-die turnkey design.

• SEMIFIVE’s “one-stop AI ASIC solution” allows it to handle the entire lifecycle of custom chip projects, from specification through mass production, giving it a competitive advantage in the Samsung Foundry DSP ecosystem.

• The company’s subsidiary, Analog Bits, provides critical low-power mixed-signal IP, further differentiating SEMIFIVE in advanced semiconductor design for both AI and data center applications.

• Financial momentum is strong, with consolidated order intake and revenue rising sharply year-on-year; preliminary Q3 2025 revenue is expected to exceed KRW 90 billion.

• Large-scale projects using Samsung Foundry’s leading-edge 2 nm, 4 nm, and 5 nm processes are scheduled to enter mass production, promising further growth in 2026.

• SEMIFIVE’s customer base has expanded rapidly, now encompassing around 70 clients across the U.S., China, Japan, and other key global markets.

• R&D investments in chiplet technology and official partnerships with Arm are positioning SEMIFIVE at the forefront of next-generation, modular AI chip design.

• Industry experts view SEMIFIVE as a breakout contender in the global ASIC transformation wave, drawing parallels with leading players like Broadcom and TSMC.

• Institutional sentiment toward SEMIFIVE’s upcoming KOSDAQ listing is positive, with investors expected to closely watch the firm’s mass production timelines, order pipeline, and expansion of global client relationships.