SEMIFIVE Receives Preliminary Approval for KOSDAQ Listing, Paving the Way for Future Growth

SEMIFIVE Secures Preliminary Approval for KOSDAQ Listing

SEMIFIVE, a company renowned for its innovative contributions to custom AI semiconductor design, has recently achieved a significant milestone by obtaining preliminary approval for its initial public offering (IPO) on the KOSDAQ market. This approval was granted by the Korea Exchange on September 30, 2025, with Samsung Securities and UBS acting as the joint lead underwriters for this landmark event.

Founded in 2019, SEMIFIVE has carved a niche for itself in the semiconductor industry by providing comprehensive AI ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) solutions. These solutions cater not only to fabless companies but also to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) device manufacturers. SEMIFIVE’s offerings extend from AI chip specifications to full production support, ensuring that clients receive an end-to-end solution tailored to their needs.

As the semiconductor landscape evolves, particularly with the increasing complexity and demand for AI applications, the industry is witnessing a marked shift. Traditional general-purpose chips, such as CPUs and GPUs, are gradually being overshadowed by customized ASICs. This paradigm shift has been instrumental in driving SEMIFIVE’s growth, which is evidenced by a remarkable surge in new order volumes. In just four years, the company's order intake skyrocketed from KRW 5.7 billion in 2020 to KRW 28.6 billion in 2022, ultimately reaching KRW 100 billion in 2024.

Industry analysts credit SEMIFIVE's exponential growth to its unique platform-based design strategy. This approach maximizes developmental efficiency and significantly cuts costs and time. Additionally, SEMIFIVE’s capacity to provide complete turnkey E2E solutions ensures that clients can navigate the entire chip development lifecycle smoothly. This responsiveness to market needs positions SEMIFIVE as a crucial player in the AI semiconductor sector, where quick time-to-market is essential for competitiveness.

The company is expecting continued momentum, especially as numerous projects transition from development to mass production. According to a spokesperson from SEMIFIVE, “In the rapidly evolving AI semiconductor market, shortening time-to-market is key to securing competitiveness. SEMIFIVE is one of the few companies capable of supporting the entire AI ASIC development cycle swiftly and in accordance with customer requirements.”

In addition to its success in the Korean market, SEMIFIVE has accelerated its international expansion since 2025, establishing partnerships and securing projects in the United States, China, and Japan. The capital raised from the IPO will serve multiple purposes: facilitating the smooth execution of existing mass-production projects, enhancing research and development in advanced technologies such as chiplets, and fortifying the company's position globally while nurturing talent in engineering.

In a statement reflecting on the company’s vision, Brandon Cho, CEO and co-founder of SEMIFIVE, expressed, “Our vision is to lead innovation in chip design for the era of custom AI semiconductors, just as foundries drove breakthroughs in manufacturing during the age of general-purpose CPUs and GPUs. The surge in new orders signals a new wave of innovation in design. Through this IPO, SEMIFIVE will proactively address the growing demand for AI ASICs while scaling our capabilities to grow alongside global semiconductor leaders.”

In conclusion, SEMIFIVE’s preliminary approval for a KOSDAQ listing marks not just a financial milestone but also a pivotal step towards enhancing innovation and capacity in the AI semiconductor sector. As the demand for customized solutions grows, SEMIFIVE stands at the forefront, ready to leverage its design capabilities to meet the challenges of tomorrow's technological advancements.