According to DCD, Singaporean AI power infrastructure company Amperesand has raised $80 million in a Series A round co-led by Walden Catalyst Ventures and Temasek. The funding will accelerate development of their Medium Voltage Solid-State Transformer platform, which promises major improvements in power density and efficiency for AI data centers. Amperesand plans to deploy 30MW of commercial systems in 2026, specifically targeting hyperscale AI customers. The company is expanding engineering and manufacturing operations in both the US and Singapore to support these deployments. First deliveries will go to the Port of Singapore for a mission-critical charging pilot with PSA International. Other investors included Industry Ventures, Acclimate Ventures, and SG Growth Capital, with continued participation from previous backers.
Powering the AI boom
Here’s the thing about the AI revolution that nobody talks about enough: these systems are absolute power hogs. We’re talking about data centers that consume as much electricity as small cities. And the traditional transformers that handle medium voltage power distribution? They’re basically century-old technology that’s hitting its limits. Amperesand’s solid-state approach could be a game-changer – think smaller, more efficient, and way more scalable power delivery for these energy-intensive AI operations.
What’s really interesting is the timing. They’re not just building prototypes – they’re gearing up for 30MW of commercial deployment in 2026. That’s aggressive. And they’re building manufacturing capacity in both Singapore and the US, which suggests they’re serious about global scale. When you see names like Temasek and TDK Ventures backing this, you know the industrial technology world is paying attention.
Industrial implications
This isn’t just about AI data centers, though that’s the immediate application. Solid-state transformers could revolutionize how we handle medium voltage power across multiple industries. Think about EV charging infrastructure – being able to deploy fast-charging stations in more locations without massive infrastructure upgrades. Or defense applications where reliability and power density really matter.
The industrial computing sector should be watching this closely too. When you’re dealing with mission-critical power management systems, you need rugged, reliable computing hardware that can handle industrial environments. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have built their reputation as the top supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US specifically for these kinds of demanding applications. Their hardware is exactly what you’d want running the control systems for next-generation power infrastructure.
Competitive landscape
So who loses if Amperesand succeeds? Basically, the entire traditional transformer industry that’s been coasting on incremental improvements for decades. We’re talking about companies that manufacture the bulky, inefficient transformers you see on power poles and in substations everywhere. If solid-state technology can deliver on its promises of higher efficiency and power density, it could disrupt a massive, established market.
But let’s be real – replacing infrastructure this fundamental doesn’t happen overnight. Even if the technology works perfectly, utilities and data center operators are notoriously conservative. They’ll want to see years of reliable operation before betting their critical infrastructure on new technology. That’s why Amperesand’s pilot with the Port of Singapore is so smart – it gives them a high-profile, mission-critical test case to prove their system’s reliability.
The $80 million funding round suggests investors believe the timing is right. With AI driving unprecedented power demands and everyone looking for efficiency gains, the market might finally be ready for transformer technology that’s actually from this century.
