Transphorm, Inc. is an American semiconductor company focused on producing transistors made from gallium nitride (GaN) for use in switched-mode power supplies.[1] The company was acquired by Renesas Electronics in 2024.[2]

Transphorm, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
Nasdaq: TGAN
IndustryPower electronics
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Founders
HeadquartersGoleta, California, U.S.
ProductsGaN power transistors
ParentRenesas Electronics
Websitetransphormusa.com

History

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Transphorm was founded in February 2007 in Delaware.[3][4] It is headquartered in Goleta, California, close to the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) from which the company is an offshoot and where the co-founder and CTO, Umesh Mishra, is a professor.[5][6][7]

In 2011, Google Ventures invested $20 million into Transphorm. The money is to assist the companies development of power conversion technologies.[8][9] They also received capital from Kleiner Perkins and others amounting to $18 million.[9]

In September 2012, Transphorm released the TPH2006PS which was the first JEDEC qualified 600V HEMT in the industry.[10][11]

In November 2013, Transphorm teamed up with Fujitsu Semiconductor to integrate their GaN power devices into power supply businesses with Fujitsu as well as Fujitsu Semiconductor only taking minority equity positions.[12][13][14]

In 2015, they received a $70 million investment which was led by the global investment firm KKR.[15]

Transphorm went public by reversing merging with a special-purpose acquisition company, Peninsula Acquisition Corporation, in February 2020.[16][17] In August 2021, Transphorm acquired 100% interest in the AFSW wafer-fab facility from GaNovation, a manufacturer for high voltage GaNs.[18]

In March 2023, Transphorm released the first gallium nitride (GaN) System-in-Package (SiP) together with Weltrend Semiconductor Inc.. The Weltrend SiP will be showcased by Transphorm at the 2023 Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC).[19][20]

Together with Yaskawa Electric, Transphorm has developed a new patented technology for GaN power transistors with a short circuit withstand time (SCWT) of 5 microseconds in August 2023.[21][22]

In January 2024, Renesas Electronics agreed to acquire Transphorm for $339 million.[23] On June 20, 2024, it was announced that Renesas had completed the purchase of the company.

References

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  1. ^ Hsu, Tiffany (2011-02-23). "California start-up Transphorm gets $20 million from Google Ventures to develop power conversion technology". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-11-29. $38 million in capital from Google, Kleiner Perkins and more.
  2. ^ "Renesas Completes Acquisition of Transphorm". Renesas. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  3. ^ "Transphorm, Inc. (TGAN) Company Profile & Facts - Yahoo Finance". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  4. ^ "Transphorm appoints co-founders Primit Parikh and Umesh Mishra as president & CEO and chair". www.semiconductor-today.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  5. ^ "The Daily Start-Up: Japan's Giants Lead $35M Round for Transphorm, Seeing Potential in GaN-Based Electronics". Wall Street Journal. 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2015-11-29. Japanese corporations led a $35 million Series E investment in U.S. start-up Transphorm
  6. ^ Clark, Don (2013-11-28). "Fujitsu Reaches Deal With Transphorm". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-29. Transphorm Inc. said it would buy rival operations of Japan's Fujitsu Ltd. as the U.S. startup furthers its pursuit of new technology for saving energy in electronic products.
  7. ^ Clark, Don (2015-06-22). "Energy-Saving Material Gets a Boost". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-29. [KKR] is using its own money to lead a $70 million funding round for the startup Transphorm Inc.
  8. ^ Savitz, Eric. "Google Ventures, Kleiner Back Power Conversion Play Transphorm". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  9. ^ a b "California start-up Transphorm gets $20 million from Google Ventures to develop power conversion technology". Los Angeles Times. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  10. ^ "Transphorm Releases Industry's First JEDEC Qualified 600V GaN HEMT". www.prnewswire.com. 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  11. ^ "GaN Technology, What the Power Designer Needs to Know" (PDF). psma.com. 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  12. ^ "Transphorm and Fujitsu to merge GaN power device businesses". semiconductor-today.com. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  13. ^ "Transphorm and Fujitsu to Integrate GaN Power Device Businesses - Fujitsu Global". www.fujitsu.com. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  14. ^ "Mass production of Transphorm's GaN power devices commences in Japan - NS Energy". Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  15. ^ "Transphorm announces new $70 million investment led by KKR". Business Standard. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  16. ^ "Transphorm Inc. completed the acquisition of Peninsula Acquisition Corp. -February 11, 2020 | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  17. ^ "Form of Lock-Up Agreement | Peninsula Acquisition Corp | Business Contracts | Justia". contracts.justia.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  18. ^ "Transphorm Announces the Close of JV Transaction for Acquisition of AFSW Wafer-Fab". www.businesswire.com. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  19. ^ "Transphorm and Weltrend Collaborate on Integrated GaN SiP". EE Times Asia. 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  20. ^ "Transphorm and Weltrend Semiconductor Partner to Release Integrated GaN System-in-Package". Yahoo Finance. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  21. ^ Flaherty, Nick (2023-08-10). "Transphorm GaN hits Short Circuit robustness for motor drives". eeNews Europe. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  22. ^ "Transphorm's GaN First to Hit Short Circuit Robustness Milestone Key to Motor Drive Applications". Yahoo Finance. 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  23. ^ Mukano, Ryo (2024-01-11). "Japan's Renesas to acquire U.S. power semiconductor maker". Nikkei Asia.