Swiss start-up Apheros has secured $1.85 million in its latest funding round to push forward with its innovative metal foam technology designed for data center cooling. The funds will be channelled into advancing their unique approach to thermal management, which promises to enhance cooling efficiency across various applications.
Founded in August 2023 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, Apheros is tackling the growing challenge of cooling in high-performance computing and mobile devices. The company’s patented metal foam technology, characterised by its open porosity and extensive surface area, is set to revolutionise cooling systems. These metal foams offer exceptional heat transfer and flow properties, making them a perfect fit for integration into existing cooling infrastructures.
The recent pre-seed funding round was spearheaded by venture capital firm Founderful. Julia Carpenter, co-founder and CEO of Apheros, has gained recognition as one of Switzerland’s Top 10 “Founders to Watch” for her pioneering work in metal foam manufacturing. Her co-founder, Gaëlle Andreatta, brings over 16 years of experience in R&D and start-up development to the table.
The company is focusing on the rapidly expanding market for liquid cooling systems. With the increasing demand for high-performance computing, AI, and data centres, the need for more efficient cooling solutions has never been more urgent. Data centres, which are critical to our digital infrastructure, are seeing soaring energy consumption—projected to account for 6% of global energy use by 2030, mainly for cooling purposes. Traditional cooling methods are proving inadequate, making the shift to more efficient, liquid-based solutions essential.
Julia Carpenter remarked, “Our technology has the potential to set new industry standards and significantly reduce the environmental impact of cooling solutions worldwide. This funding round will allow us to advance our mission of helping our customers achieve superior thermal performance, increase energy efficiency, and contribute to a greener future. Immediately, we will expand production, increase research and development efforts, and bring state-of-the-art solutions to a broader market.”
CTO Gaëlle Andreatta noted, “There is a dire need for more efficient cooling solutions. AI development is driving exponential growth in data center energy consumption and inefficient cooling is the main culprit. Our unique metal foams have superior heat exchange and fluid transport properties, especially for liquid and two-phase cooling. With our customers, we are redefining thermal management. ”
Apheros aims to spearhead the transition towards sustainable, high-performance cooling solutions, setting a new benchmark in the industry. Lukas Weder, a founding partner at Founderful, expressed enthusiasm for Apheros’ mission, stating, “We are excited to support Apheros’ mission to revolutionize cooling technology. Apheros’ groundbreaking approach has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and set new industry standards. We are confident in the team’s vision and capabilities and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make on both the industry and the environment”.