10th Anniversary Champion: Dr Giorgia Longobardi

Overview

Enterprise Hub Member and 10th Anniversary champion, Dr Giorgia Longobardi, scaled Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), with the support of the SME Leaders programme in 2020.

Case Study

 

Name: Dr Giorgia Longobardi

Role: Founder and CEO  

Enterprise: Cambridge GaN Devices Ltd. (CGD)

Location: Cambridge and Taipei, TW

Launch date: 2016

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What does Cambridge GaN Devices do?

The challenge

Power electronics have a central role in addressing the biggest challenge of our time: reduce power consumption globally and contribute to achieve net zero targets. Power electronics have a central role in addressing the biggest challenge of our time: reduce power consumption globally and contribute to achieve net zero targets. 

The solution

CGD's ICeGaN™ transistors leverage the properties of GaN achieving 99% efficiency in electricity systems while being more reliable and easy to use in comparison to other power electronic alternatives.

Milestone achievements

A milestone moment for the business was launching and achieving mass production with CGD’s first family of 650V Power GaN transistors in 2022.

Later in the year, the Series B Funding round has been completed: we secured $19m to scale up for $50bn Power Semiconductor Device Market. The investment was led by Parkwalk Advisors and BGF, with participation from IQ Capital, CIC, Foresight Williams Technology and Martlet Capital. This enabled us to ramp-up production in volumes.

Another impressive achievement was joining forces with TSMC, global distributors and other strategic partners to accelerate market penetration.

In May 2023 we introduced our H2 series to the global market and strengthen our value statement on innovation.

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What challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur?

The company grows very fast; by the time we have a system in place the company outgrows it. We’ve learnt to be extremely dynamic, listening to the company’s needs and adapting fast. Being a leader is not easy – we often don’t have someone to turn to in difficult times. That’s why the Enterprise Hub’s Shott SME Leaders (now Shott Scale Up Accelerator) programme has been invaluable. It’s provided me with a safe space to share some of the challenges we face and to get a different perspective.

“As a leader, who do you turn to in difficult times?”

How has the Enterprise Hub supported you?

My business would not have reached the success it has without the skills I’ve learnt through the SME Leaders programme. It is a dynamic programme that can be tailored to your needs, and it has been incredible to have the chance to apply the skills I’ve learnt to my business and see the results.

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What are your future ambitions for Cambridge GaN Devices?

We want to be part of a worldwide movement towards energy efficiency and electrification by developing a technological breakthrough with the next generation of intelligent Gallium Nitride based ‘power modules’.