A deep-tech startup spun out of a KAIST research lab, "Point2 Technology," has successfully attracted strategic investment from NVIDIA.
KAIST announced on the 23rd that Point2 Technology, a deep-tech startup co-founded by Professor Hyeon-Min Bae of the School of Electrical Engineering—who also serves as Dean of the KAIST Startup Institute—together with alumni, secured a Series B extension round on April 21 (local time) from investors including NVentures, NVIDIA's venture investment arm, Maverick Silicon, and UMC Capital.
Point2 Technology closed its Series B round at a total of $76 million (approximately 100 billion won), becoming the first Korea-based startup and first Korean semiconductor company to attract strategic investment from NVIDIA.
At the heart of this investment is Point2 Technology's "e-Tube™" technology. AI data centers require the connection of thousands of semiconductor chips, but conventional copper cables are limited in transmission distance, while optical fibers have been criticized for their high costs and power consumption.
The e-Tube technology developed by KAIST researchers is a plastic waveguide-based data transmission technology utilizing radio frequency (RF) signals, and is notable for simultaneously addressing these limitations.
The technology extends transmission distance by 10 times compared to copper cables while reducing power consumption and cost to one-third that of optical cables. It has also dramatically reduced data transmission latency, earning recognition as a core technology for next-generation AI infrastructure.
NVIDIA's direct investment is seen as recognition of this technology as an essential element for implementing future AI data center infrastructure.
Point2 Technology was also named a "2026 Pioneer" by BloombergNEF, a global energy and technology analysis organization, earning recognition for its potential as a green technology capable of addressing the surging power demand of the AI era.
Jinho Park, CEO of Point2 Technology, said, "AI competitiveness is determined by interconnects (data connection technology between semiconductors)," adding, "We will accelerate the commercialization of next-generation AI infrastructure in cooperation with global partners."
Hyeon-Min Bae, Dean of the KAIST Startup Institute, said, "This investment is a representative achievement in which original technology developed at KAIST attracted investment from a global Big Tech company," adding, "We will continue to strengthen support so that startups with excellent technology can rapidly enter the global market."
The KAIST Startup Institute plans to establish a "Global Growth Acceleration System" to support the global expansion of on-campus startups. Based on its global investor network, it plans to systematically support the scale-up of deep-tech startups by linking the entire process from proof of concept (PoC) to investment attraction.
Over the past five years, the KAIST Startup Institute has recorded cumulative investment of 3.5 trillion won, achieving an average of 115 startups founded annually and a 92% five-year survival rate. KAIST-affiliated companies are also making their mark in the global investment market, with the corporate value of major startups estimated at approximately 20 trillion won. Since 2021, 24 companies have been listed, and in 2025, three startups in fields including AI and bio went public.
