Claros, a Virginia-based developer of power management hardware and software, has raised $30M in an oversubscribed seed round co-led by General Catalyst and Red Cell Partners. The company builds Integrated Voltage Regulator (IVR) and Power Gateway solutions to optimize power delivery from chip to grid in AI data centers. The capital will accelerate prototype fabrication, production ramp to 2027, and team expansion.
AI Power Crunch Sparks IVR Investments
The round follows a surge in data center power efficiency funding. Empower Semiconductor raised $140M Series D in October 2025 for IVR tech targeting XPUs. PowerLattice secured $25M for voltage regulators boosting AI efficiency. Claros differentiates with vertically stacked IVR and DC-native Power Gateway addressing end-to-end losses.
Data Centers Waste 30-50% Power
Data centers lose 30-50% of power in delivery from grid to chip, with 40% waste at the chip level alone. AI workloads exacerbate this, doubling power needs by 2030 amid grid constraints. Legacy AC-DC conversions and lateral regulators fail to support dense AI racks. Current solutions overlook the full stack, from voltage regulation to rack distribution.
Vertical IVR Slashes Conversion Losses
Claros' IVR stacks regulators directly atop processors, shortening power paths and cutting losses by up to 30%. The Power Gateway enables DC-native distribution at 95% efficiency from any source, reducing CAPEX by $3M per MW. This hardware-software platform unlocks higher compute density without new infrastructure. Unlike software-only optimizers, Claros tackles physical delivery inefficiencies.
DC Gateway Enables Modular Energy
The Power Gateway supports multi-source integration for resilient, efficient data centers. Reference designs handle 2.7MW deployments. Prototypes include three fabricated with Samsung and a fourth for an unnamed customer. As CEO Daniel Kultran noted:
"It doesn't mean that the power [demand] goes down. It just means that we can get more AI done… With our full platform solution, now you can enable 30% savings in energy."
This reveals how Claros enables more compute per watt.
Oversubscribed Seed Draws Top VCs
General Catalyst and Red Cell Partners co-led the oversubscribed round, joined by Systemiq Capital, Aero X Ventures, and Trenches Capital. Red Cell, Claros' incubator, brings defense-tech scaling expertise. General Catalyst signals conviction in AI infrastructure. The prior $9.75M stealth funding in February 2025 built prototypes and grew the team to 35.
Data Center Power Market Hits $33B
The data center power market stands at $22.8B in 2024, projected to reach $33.3B by 2030 at 6.5% CAGR. Power management TAM hits $8.76B in 2026 with 7-15% growth. Competitors like Phaidra ($92.5M) focus on AI cooling software, while d-Matrix ($450M) targets inference chips. Claros spans chip-to-grid hardware amid AI-driven demand.
Epirus Veterans Lead Power Pivot
Co-founder and CEO Dan Kultran built high-power systems at Epirus, which raised over $500M. Executive Chairman Grant Verstandig co-founded Epirus and sold Rally Health to UnitedHealth Group. CTO Lixiang Wei holds 100+ patents in power electronics from Rivian and Rockwell. The team delivered 80+ GW projects and 286 patents total, bridging defense to AI infra.
Prototypes Pave 2027 Production
Claros fabricated three IVR prototypes with Samsung, with a fourth underway. Power Gateway demo units are ready for 2.7MW reference designs. Natcast NSTC membership under CHIPS Act accelerates semiconductor innovation. Recent awards include Technical.ly RealLIST Startups 2026 and WBJ Fire Award 2025.