Woofun AI reports that AI chip startup Etched has closed a funding round totaling approximately $800 million. Investors include quantitative trading firm Jane Street, which contributed over $100 million, alongside a venture capital entity linked to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The round also features participation from Stripes, funds associated with Peter Thiel, and other quantitative firms. Founded in 2022, Etched positions itself as a competitor to NVIDIA in AI computing, focusing on customized architectures for large model inference. The company is currently testing its inference chip products and intends to begin shipping to select customers this summer. Etched has signed sales contracts valued at roughly $1 billion, though specific client identities remain undisclosed. The startup is collaborating with TSMC to develop "low-voltage inference" technology designed to reduce energy consumption and thermal pressure.