Korean on-device AI chip startup DeepX is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), with its next steps tied to an ongoing funding round. DeepX CEO Lokwon Kim told Reuters that the company plans to select banks to manage the IPO after completing that funding round in the first half of this year.
IPO Timeline and Funding Round
According to the source, DeepX is an on-device AI chip company. The company’s IPO planning is sequenced after its ongoing funding round concludes. Lokwon Kim stated that DeepX intends to select banks to manage its IPO after the funding round is completed in the first half of this year.
This sequencing reflects a standard approach where IPO readiness depends on financial disclosure, governance, and market timing—elements that can be influenced by the capital raised privately before going public. The source does not provide details on the size of the funding round, the stage of product commercialization, or the exact IPO date.
Customer Partnerships
DeepX works with Hyundai Motor and Baidu, according to the source. These partnerships indicate that DeepX’s on-device approach is being applied to both automotive and AI services sectors.
On-device AI chips typically operate under different constraints than server-based GPUs, including power budgets, thermal limits, and latency requirements. The source does not specify the exact roles Hyundai Motor and Baidu play in DeepX’s operations, but their involvement suggests the company’s technology has progressed beyond theoretical development.
What’s Next
DeepX’s bank selection represents a concrete step in IPO preparation. Bank selection typically affects underwriting, investor targeting, and the logistics of preparing the offering. The source does not name which banks DeepX might consider, nor does it provide information about the intended exchange, share size, or valuation range.
For a hardware-focused startup, the IPO timeline can interact with product and supply-chain planning. The source confirms the sequencing between the funding round’s completion (first half of the year) and IPO bank selection, but does not specify how proceeds would be allocated.
Source: Tech-Economic Times