China's Wending Juxin raises Series B extension for domestic chip lithography push

What's the deal? Shenzhen Wending Juxin Technology, a developer of domestic stepper lithography equipment, has raised a Series B extension round. Kaiding Investment and Yigao CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → backed the round, announced in October 2026.

What does it do? Founded in May 2023, the company builds front-end stepper lithography machines for compound semiconductors rather than cutting-edge logic chips. Its WS180i series machine, delivered in 2025, targets fields such as silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), and Mini/Micro LED displays.

The product. The WS180i uses step-and-repeat projection lithography, a "step-exposure" mode suited to multi-variety, small-batch, high-precision work. The machine offers resolution from 1.5μm down to 0.35μm, handles 2-inch to 8-inch wafers, and supports substrates including silicon.

Why now? High-end lithography equipment for compound semiconductors has long been dominated by a few international suppliers. Domestic manufacturers face high costs, uncertain supply cycles, and limited support for specialised processes such as thick photoresist and heterogeneous substrates.

What's the endgame? Wending Juxin aims to fill the gap in domestic equipment for compound semiconductor manufacturing. It positions itself as a cost-effective local alternative offering rapid response and customised service, rather than competing on the most advanced logic nodes.

The signal: Compound semiconductors underpin strategic industries including new energy vehicles, 5G, and next-generation displays. The round reflects the broader push for domestic substitution as China's semiconductor supply chain restructures, moving from logic chips toward the specialised equipment behind power devices and LEDs.

Read more: eu.36kr.com

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