🎙️ Inversion Semiconductor: The Startup Taking On ASML with a Tabletop Particle Accelerator

What if the next leap in chip manufacturing didn't come from a trillion-dollar company — but from two founders building a compact particle accelerator in Berkeley?

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Gabriel Jarrosson sits down with Rohan Karthik and Daniel Vega, the founders of Inversion Semiconductor, a YC-backed deeptech startup building a radically new lithography machine. Their tech promises to manufacture the world’s most powerful chips — 15x faster than anything out there — and reshore advanced chipmaking to the U.S. for the first time in decades.

We get into:

How they shrunk a particle accelerator 1000×

Why ASML can’t (and won’t) build this

Fundraising for a moonshot in deeptech

The gap between U.S. and European startup ecosystems

Predictions on photonics, quantum computing, and the post-Moore’s Law era

Whether you’re a founder, investor, engineer, or just deeptech-curious — this episode is a wild ride through physics, ambition, and the future of chips.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Meet the Founders: Rohan and Daniel

00:57 The Technology Behind Inversion

02:19 Why ASML Isn't Doing This

05:16 Backgrounds: From ARM to Particle Accelerators

08:44 The Inception of the Idea

12:52 Exploring Other Applications

15:54 Early Struggles and the Path to Validation

21:42 Why Build in the US?

24:49 Comparing Talent in Europe and the US

25:43 Challenges in European Investment

28:45 The YC Experience for Deep Tech Startups

35:02 Building Advanced Semiconductor Tools in the US

45:11 Future Predictions for Chip Technology

47:07 Conclusion and Farewell

🔗 LINKS

Inversion Semiconductor: https://inversionsemi.com

Follow Gabriel: https://twitter.com/gabjarrosson

#Semiconductors #DeepTech #YC #HardwareStartups #ASML #Chips #Photonics #QuantumComputing #MooresLaw #StartupPodcast

Join us for an intriguing discussion with Stef from Reditus Space as we explore the potential of zero gravity manufacturing. Learn how Reditus Space aims to revolutionize production by using reusable satellites to create unique and superior materials in space. Discover the challenges and exciting opportunities this new frontier presents, from pharmaceuticals to semiconductors, and even the possibility of organ manufacturing. Dive deep into the fascinating world of space factories, the impact of AI, reusability in space travel, and the future of space exploration.

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Meet Stef

00:34 Zero G Manufacturing

01:43 Challenges and Opportunities

05:38 Returning from Space

08:37 Future of Space Manufacturing

16:07 The Journey of Reditus Space

18:23 Upcoming Mission

20:38 Risk Mitigation

21:20 Economics

22:45 Reusability

25:43 Reentry

31:13 Future of Space Manufacturing

35:29 Human Presence in Space

37:50 Book Rec

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we delve into the current state of the tech investment landscape, highlighting how fear and uncertainty in the market, partly driven by political factors like Trump's tariffs, influence investor behavior. Gabriel discusses the unique ecosystem of Y Combinator (YC) and its resilience during tumultuous times, noting that the best startups tend to thrive even when broader market conditions are bearish. The conversation also touches on the importance of investing during down cycles, the impact of AI on accelerating business processes, and the significance of founder passion and personal connection to their problem space. Gabriel also offers insights into the role of content creation and personal branding for founders, emphasizing how these elements can serve as powerful tools for customer acquisition and value creation.

00:00 Intro

00:51 Current Funding Landscape and Market Uncertainty

01:55 The Resilience of YC Startups

07:32 The Importance of Founder Passion and Connection

17:53 The Role of Pivots in Startup Success

22:55 Evaluating AI Investments and Technical Moats

28:56 The Power of Content and Personal Branding

33:41 Conclusion