SCI Semiconductor raises £5M for memory-safe chips
SCI Semiconductor raised £5 million to scale chips that build memory safety directly into hardware.
Cybersecurity is moving deeper into the computing stack, with some startups trying to prevent entire classes of software vulnerabilities at the processor level.
What happened
SCI Semiconductor raised £5 million in an oversubscribed round led by PXN Ventures and Mercia Ventures, with Osney Capital, Black Opal Ventures and private investors participating. The company is developing memory-safe chips based on the CHERI security framework.
Why it matters
Memory vulnerabilities remain a major source of cyber attacks. Building stronger controls directly into chip architecture could reduce reliance on software patches after vulnerabilities are discovered.
The bigger picture
Security-by-design is expanding from applications and operating systems into hardware. Critical infrastructure, defence and medical systems are likely to be early markets for architectures that can enforce stronger memory isolation.