Samsung Backs AI Chipmaker Rebellions in $200M Round

South Korean AI chipmaker Rebellions has secured a strategic investment from Samsung, as part of its current funding round aimed at raising between US$150 million and US$200 million, according to CFO Sungkyue Shin.

While Samsung’s contribution amount has not been disclosed, it marks a significant endorsement from one of the world’s largest semiconductor firms. Founded in 2020, Rebellions has now raised US$220 million in total. The startup gained significant traction following its 2023 merger with Sapeon, another South Korean chipmaker. The combined entity has focused on developing AI inferencing chips, which are designed to interpret real-time data using pre-trained artificial intelligence models—an area currently dominated by Nvidia.

Key Highlights

• South Korean AI chipmaker Rebellions receives investment from Samsung
• Part of an ongoing funding round of US$150M–$200M
• Rebellions has raised US$220M since 2020

Rebellions has positioned itself as a competitive alternative to Nvidia, catering to growing demand from data centers and edge computing environments. The company is backed by major investors including SK Hynix, SK Telecom, Korea Telecom, and Saudi Aramco. It was last valued at US$1 billion, and the current funding round is expected to increase that valuation significantly.

The company also revealed plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) following the successful completion of the round. As global interest in AI infrastructure and custom silicon solutions grows, Rebellions is aiming to carve out a leadership position in Asia and beyond.

Also Read: Samsung Tops South Korea's Stock Charts on AI Chip Hype

This funding not only enhances Rebellions' R&D capabilities but also signals growing confidence in Asia’s homegrown alternatives to US-based chipmakers.