Female-led Swiss Deep Tech start-up Apheros secures $1.85M to cool down data centres

Data centers are the backbone of the digital age, with unprecedented demand for digital infrastructure driven by the surge in the use of AI, machine learning, and supercomputing. However, their energy consumption is skyrocketing. By 2030, an estimated six percent of global energy consumption will be used specifically for cooling data centers. A shift from traditional cooling methods to more cost- and energy efficient liquid-based solutions is inevitable. Enabling this transition, deep tech startup Apheros is announcing a $1.85m funding round seizing this critical moment to introduce its innovative metal foam technology, offering a superior solution to this pressing industry challenge.

The pre-seed funding round, led by venture capital firm Founderful, will accelerate development and deployment of Apheros' revolutionary metal foam-based cooling solutions.

The Apheros patented manufacturing process creates unique foam structures with completely open porosity and unparalleled surface area, surpassing traditional solutions by a factor of thousand, which translates into exceptional heat transfer and flow properties. Ideal for high performance cooling applications, Apheros’ metal foams are easily integrated within its customers’ existing cooling systems. They address customers’ urgent needs of reduced energy consumption and cooling costs.

Apheros AG, founded in August 2023, was developed as an ETH Zurich spin-off to tackle cooling challenges in a wide range of applications including high-performance computing and mobile devices. Apheros is led by a team with a proven track record in innovation, business development and tech transfer. Apheros’ co-founder and CEO Julia Carpenter was recently named one of Switzerland's Top 10 “Founders to Watch” for her invention of Apheros novel metal foam manufacturing process. Co-founder and CTO Gaëlle Andreatta, has over 16 years of experience in R&D, Tech Transfer, and start-up development.

Julia Carpenter, co-founder and CEO of Apheros commented: "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.”

Apheros currently targets the thermal management market with a focus on liquid cooling, a segment expanding at a fast pace due to the needs created by the growing demand for High Performance Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers. More efficient cooling systems are needed to overcome current energy shortages and to reach ambitious climate protection goals. There is a pressing need to introduce higher performing cooling solutions to the market.

Gaëlle Andreatta, co-founder and CTO of Apheros added: “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’ vision is to catalyze the transition to a more sustainable future through materials innovation. Apheros will redefine sustainable, high-performance liquid cooling and establish its products as the gold standard for sustainable, high-performance liquid cooling.

Lukas Weder, founding partner at Founderful commented: “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 "