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Startup Apheros has received investment to develop a cooling system
Swiss startup Apheros has received €1.65 million to develop its idea for data centres. The company offers a solution for cooling data centre systems using metal foam.
The demand for data centre services is growing rapidly around the world. The active implementation of artificial intelligence plays an important role in this. The use of AI capabilities, machine learning and supercomputers increases the need for advanced digital infrastructure. However, such trends also have a downside. The development of innovative technologies leads to the consumption of large amounts of resources. The first of these is electricity, which is needed to process data. Analysts estimate that cooling data centres will account for 6% of global energy consumption by 2030. This highlights the urgent need to find more efficient and cost-effective solutions to manage resources and reduce energy costs.
Zurich-based startup Apheros offers one such solution. Its team aims to prove that it is possible to abandon traditional cooling methods in favour of more energy-efficient ones. To further develop its idea, the company has raised a round of funding led by Founderful. With the funds raised, Apheros will accelerate the development and implementation of its solution.
Features of the startup cooling process
Apheros has patented a proprietary technological process based on the use of metal foam. The process makes it possible to produce a material with an open porous structure. It has a number of advantages over traditional materials:
- it can cover large surface areas;
- the process provides high heat transfer rates;
- the substance is liquid, making it suitable for various types of surfaces.
These characteristics make the solution ideal for cooling large data centres. The foams are easy to integrate into existing systems and can significantly reduce energy costs.
About the company
Apheros, a startup founded in 2023 as a subsidiary of ETH Zurich, develops cooling systems for high-performance computing and mobile devices. It aims to create and implement innovative energy-efficient solutions.
The development team includes specialists with innovation experience. Julia Carpenter, one of the ‘Innovators under 35’, is the co-founder of the startup and the originator of the metal foam idea that Apheros is implementing.
According to Carpenter, the technology has the potential to become a new standard in cooling methods. It can significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment and cut energy costs. The startup is actively working to improve the process. The team wants to make it universal and easy to use. In the near future, Apheros intends to enter new markets and attract large customers. The investment will allow the company to expand its production of foams and continue its research.