Phononic
Phononic develops solid-state thermoelectric cooling chips and integrated Thermal Kit solutions that provide chip-level and rack-level cooling for AI data centers, optical transceivers, and GPU high-bandwidth memory. The company serves hyperscalers, OEMs, and partners across automotive, e-grocery, HVAC, and scientific research markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersDurham, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Phononic does
Phononic is a Durham, North Carolina-based solid-state cooling technology company that develops thermoelectric coolers (TECs) using bismuth telluride semiconductor materials operating on the Peltier effect. The company was founded around 2009 and has deployed over 40 million TECs across multiple industries, with its primary current focus on chip-level and rack-level cooling for AI data centers, including pluggable optical transceivers (100G through 1.6T), co-packaged optics (CPO), GPU high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and switch ASICs. Its product portfolio spans discrete TEC devices for optical communications, integrated Thermal Kits for GPU HBM and CPO applications, a software-defined Thermal Fabric platform with Redfish-compatible APIs for fleet-wide thermal orchestration, a Responsive Cooling System, a Thermal Kit-enabled CDU, and the Active Cooling Solutions platform for e-grocery cold chain. Secondary markets include automotive LiDAR cooling (via partnership with Luminar), HVAC refrigerant-free cooling through its TTAP licensing platform, and custom scientific applications such as CERN's CMS detector.
Phononic generates revenue through hardware sales of TECs and Thermal Kits to hyperscalers, OEMs, and optical transceiver manufacturers, technology licensing (notably TTAP for HVAC and refrigeration partners), and a Cooling-as-a-Service subscription model for e-grocery cold-chain fulfillment. The company operates an asset-light manufacturing model through its partnership with Fabrinet in Thailand, while concentrating US-based engineering and design expertise at its Durham headquarters. Distribution is supported by regional partners in China, Japan, Korea, and Israel for the optical communications market.
As of 2026, Phononic holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and is the only IATF 16949-certified TEC supplier, supporting automotive qualification in two OEM vehicle platforms. The company has raised approximately $175 million across 11 funding rounds since inception, most recently a $50 million growth round from Goldman Sachs Asset Management in July 2021. Phononic is currently engaged in active sale discussions at reported valuations of at least $1.5 billion (with offers exceeding $2 billion), with Lazard retained as financial advisor for a strategic review initiated in 2026.
Phononic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Phononic
- Legal name
- Phononic, Inc.
- Website
- http://phononic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Phononic develops solid-state thermoelectric cooling chips and integrated Thermal Kit solutions that provide chip-level and rack-level cooling for AI data centers, optical transceivers, and GPU high-bandwidth memory. The company serves hyperscalers, OEMs, and partners across automotive, e-grocery, HVAC, and scientific research markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Phononic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solid-State Thermal Management / Thermoelectric Cooling Hardware
- NAICS
- Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cooling Systems & Thermal Management (CRAC/CRAH, Chillers, Liquid Cooling) (HDABAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Thermal Management Components (Heat sinks, TIMs, fans/blowers, thermal pads) (IMAGAJAL), Cooling & Thermal Solutions (Air/Liquid, fans, thermal paste) (HDACAGAF), Automotive Thermal Management for Electrified Powertrains (Battery/Inverter/Motor Cooling) (IMACALAD)
Keywords
Where Phononic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Phononic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- TEC Hardware Sales: Sale of thermoelectric cooler (TEC) devices for optical transceivers, co-packaged optics, GPU HBMs, and other data center applications. Products sold directly to hyperscalers and OEMs with application-specific designs.
- Thermal Kit Solutions: Integrated cooling solutions combining TECs with mechanical/thermal architecture and firmware/software, sold as complete Thermal Kits for GPU HBMs, CPO, and pluggable transceivers.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary solid-state cooling technology for HVAC (TTAP platform), refrigeration, and other applications. Partners receive access to reference designs and patented IP for their specific applications.
- Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS): Flexible business model for e-grocery cold chain providing cooling hardware and services without upfront capital expenditure, with ongoing service fees for monitoring and maintenance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Cooling-as-a-Service for E-Grocery |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Phononic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Phononic designs and manufactures solid-state thermoelectric cooler (TEC) chips and integrated thermal management solutions built on bismuth telluride semiconductor materials. Its offerings include high-performance TECs for pluggable optical transceivers and lasers, Thermal Kits for GPU HBMs and co-packaged optics, Predictive Cooling Software/Firmware, and the Thermal Fabric software platform for AI data center thermal orchestration. The company also licenses its cooling platform for HVAC/refrigeration/automotive applications and delivers Active Cooling Solutions for e-grocery cold chain.
Product overview
Phononic offers a comprehensive solid-state cooling technology platform centered on thermoelectric coolers (TECs) for thermal management. The core product portfolio includes high-performance TECs for pluggable transceivers (supporting 100G through 1.6T), Thermal Kits for GPU HBMs and Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), and Predictive Cooling Software with Redfish-compatible interfaces. The flagship Thermal Fabric platform enables real-time, system-level thermal optimization across AI data centers. Additional offerings include the Responsive Cooling System for distributed cooling, Thermal Kit-Enabled CDUs, Active Cooling Solutions for e-grocery cold chain, and TTAP for HVAC applications. Phononic's Evolve product line includes benchtop and undercounter refrigerators/freezers. The company operates with US-based engineering in North Carolina and Thailand-based manufacturing through Fabrinet.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Thermal Kit: Precision cooling solution combining thermoelectric coolers with integrated mechanical and thermal architecture for AI data center hotspots including GPUs and transceivers.
- Thermal Fabric
- Active Cooling Solutions (ACS)
- Responsive Cooling
Products and services
- Phononic TECs for Pluggable Transceivers High-performance thermoelectric coolers (TECs) that cool lasers in high-speed optical transceivers (100G through 1.6T), targeting optical transceiver manufacturers, telecommunications OEMs, and hyperscaler data center operators.
- Thermal Kit for Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) Advanced packaging and localized cooling solution for co-packaged optical engines in scale-out and scale-up applications, integrating optics directly beside switch ASICs to deliver higher bandwidth density, lower power, and improved signal integrity.
- Thermal Kit for GPU HBMs Solid-state cooling solution for GPU high-bandwidth memory (HBM) targeted at AI training and inference workloads and HBM 3 and later generations, delivering up to 0.15 PUE savings, 5X lifetime improvement, 40% greater compute performance, and 3X ROI over five years.
- Predictive Cooling Software & Firmware Software-enabled, dynamically-controlled cooling solution with embedded firmware and Redfish-compatible open-source interfaces that provide real-time analytics, predictive cooling, precise workload distribution, and deterministic thermal envelope management with millisecond action times.
- Phononic Thermal Fabric Software-defined, TEC-enabled control layer that converts thermal management into real-time, system-level optimization across the entire AI data center, enabling millisecond control of cooling, real-time thermal telemetry and analytics, workload-aware orchestration, and seamless software integration.
- TTAP (Thermoelectric Thermal Acquisition Platform) for HVAC HVAC solution providing fully demand-based cooling and heating without the need for refrigerants or a hydronic network, delivered via technology licensing to HVAC OEMs and building systems integrators.
- Active Cooling Solutions (ACS) Platform Full-service end-to-end cold-chain fulfillment solution for the e-grocery industry, bundling the Actively Cooled Tote, an all-electric tri-temperature delivery vehicle, real-time temperature monitoring services, and a Cooling-as-a-Service business model.
- Phononic Evolve Benchtop Refrigerator Solid-state benchtop refrigerator using thermoelectric cooling technology instead of compressors.
- Phononic Evolve Benchtop Freezer Solid-state benchtop freezer using thermoelectric cooling technology instead of compressors.
- Phononic Evolve Undercounter Refrigerator Solid-state undercounter refrigerator using thermoelectric cooling technology instead of compressors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 0.15 PUE savings for AI data centers
- +12 more outcomes
Companies that use Phononic
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Phononic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Phononic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core, supporting and regional.
- LuminarstrategicStrategic supplier agreement for high-performance TECs for cooling LiDAR optics in automotive applications. Phononic is the only TEC supplier certified toward IATF 16949 automotive quality standard and qualified in two major OEM vehicle platforms.
- FabrinetcoreManufacturing partnership with Fabrinet, a leading provider of advanced optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical and electronic manufacturing services. This partnership enabled rapid qualification and scaling of global production of high-performance thermoelectrics without disrupting supply chain.
- stow RoboticssupportingPartnership with warehouse automation firm stow Robotics to advance cold-chain fulfillment solutions in the e-grocery industry, integrating Phononic's Active Cooling Solutions with automated warehouse systems.
- KPI Integrated SolutionssupportingPartnership with supply chain solutions provider KPI Integrated Solutions to advance cold-chain fulfillment in grocery retail, combining Phononic's cooling technology with KPI's supply chain expertise.
- PhotonteckregionalRegional distribution partner for China market, ensuring regional supply meets growing demands of the optical transceiver market.
- Seikoh GikenregionalRegional distribution partner for Japan market, ensuring regional supply meets growing demands of the optical transceiver market.
- GillanixregionalRegional distribution partner for Korea market, ensuring regional supply meets growing demands of the optical transceiver market.
- El-Gev Electronics LtdregionalRegional distribution partner for Israel market, ensuring regional supply meets growing demands of the optical transceiver market.
- CienastrategicCollaborative partnership to optimize TEC design for Ciena's coherent optical transceivers. Phononic performed detailed design work, multiphysics modeling, and comparative analysis for integrating multiple TECs within constrained transceiver form factors, improving yield and reducing power consumption.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Phononic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boyd Corporation: Boyd is a diversified thermal management and engineered materials provider serving data center, semiconductor, and electronics customers with liquid cooling, cold plates, and heat sinks. It competes most directly with Phononic in chip-level and rack-level cooling for AI and HPC applications.
- Laird Thermal Systems: Laird is one of the largest dedicated thermoelectric cooler (TEC) manufacturers globally, serving medical, industrial, and telecom/optical applications. It is a direct TEC supplier to many of the same optical transceiver and laser customers that Phononic serves.
- Marlow Industries: Marlow Industries is a long-standing US-based thermoelectric cooler manufacturer used across defense, aerospace, medical, and optoelectronics. As a subsidiary of Coherent (formerly II-VI), it is deeply embedded in optical transceiver supply chains that overlap with Phononic's core market.
- CoolIT Systems: CoolIT specializes in liquid cooling solutions (CDUs, cold plates, rack manifolds) for high-performance computing and AI data centers. It is one of the primary competitive liquid cooling platforms that hyperscalers evaluate alongside Phononic's TEC-based thermal kits.
- Asetek: Asetek is a liquid cooling pioneer supplying PC gaming, workstation, and increasingly data center customers with closed-loop and cold plate cooling. It is a relevant competitor as data center thermal architectures converge on liquid-based chip cooling.
- RMT Ltd (RMT Thermoelectric): RMT is a Russian-based manufacturer of thermoelectric modules and assemblies used in optoelectronics, medical, and industrial cooling. It is a direct TEC supplier competing with Phononic for optical transceiver and laser cooling sockets.
Broad incumbents
- Vertiv: Vertiv is a global data center infrastructure incumbent offering precision cooling, power, and IT management solutions across hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise. Its broad thermal portfolio overlaps with Phononic's data center cooling products at the rack and facility level.
Regional players
- Gentherm: Gentherm is a thermal management and comfort technology specialist primarily serving the automotive market with seat and battery thermal solutions. Its automotive thermal expertise overlaps with Phononic's LiDAR cooling initiatives under IATF 16949.
Emerging players
- TE Technology: TE Technology is a smaller US-based thermoelectric cooler and module manufacturer focused on optoelectronics, medical, and industrial applications. It competes with Phononic in laser and detector cooling for instrumentation and photonics.
- ZutaCore: ZutaCore offers direct-to-chip liquid cooling and two-phase cooling solutions targeting AI and high-performance data centers. It represents an emerging alternative to both bulk liquid and solid-state approaches that Phononic must compete against in AI rack deployments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Phononic social profiles
Digital presencePhononic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Phononic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Phononic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Phononic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Phononic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Phononic
What does Phononic do?
Phononic designs and manufactures solid-state thermoelectric cooler (TEC) chips and integrated thermal management solutions built on bismuth telluride semiconductor materials. Its offerings include high-performance TECs for pluggable optical transceivers and lasers, Thermal Kits for GPU HBMs and co-packaged optics, Predictive Cooling Software/Firmware, and the Thermal Fabric software platform for AI data center thermal orchestration. The company also licenses its cooling platform for HVAC/refrigeration/automotive applications and delivers Active Cooling Solutions for e-grocery cold chain.
Is Phononic a public or private company?
Phononic is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Phononic founded?
Phononic was founded in 2008. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Phononic based?
Phononic is headquartered in Durham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Phononic make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. TEC Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are thermal Kit Solutions, technology Licensing and cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS).
Who are Phononic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boyd Corporation, Laird Thermal Systems, Marlow Industries, CoolIT Systems, Asetek and RMT Ltd (RMT Thermoelectric). Vertiv is listed as a broad incumbent. Gentherm is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are TE Technology and ZutaCore.
Does Phononic have an API?
Yes. Phononic offers API-accessible control firmware and Redfish-compatible open-source interfaces for data center operators. These interfaces enable real-time analytics, predictive cooling, and system-level thermal management integration. The API allows operators to dynamically control cooling, access thermal telemetry, and integrate with existing data center infrastructure management (DCIM) systems.
What industry is Phononic in?
Phononic's product category is Solid-State Thermal Management / Thermoelectric Cooling Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAKAD, Cooling Systems & Thermal Management (CRAC/CRAH, Chillers, Liquid Cooling), with a secondary code of IMAGAJAL, Thermal Management Components (Heat sinks, TIMs, fans/blowers, thermal pads). Its NAICS code is 33341 and its SIC code is 3585.