Adit Singh Brings Decades of Semiconductor Experience to Mayfield

Adit Singh, a seasoned venture capitalist with a passion for semiconductors, has joined Mayfield as an infrastructure partner. Singh’s extensive experience in the industry, including his role in helping Cerebras secure its first funding round, makes him an invaluable addition to the Mayfield team.

In 2013, Singh was a partner at Foundation Capital when he helped source and co-lead the first funding round into then-obscure chip startup Cerebras. By the time Cerebras held its blockbuster IPO in May, Foundation Capital held a roughly 7% stake, making it the third-largest shareholder in the company, which now trades at a valuation of nearly $50 billion.

Infrastructure Focus at Mayfield

As an infrastructure partner at Mayfield, Singh will focus on investing in hardware, infrastructure software, cybersecurity, and physical AI. He credits his background in electrical engineering for helping him recognize the potential in Cerebras 10 years ago.

“If you look at Mayfield’s semiconductor portfolio, it’s probably the best in the market right now,” Singh told TechCrunch, pointing to Mayfield’s investments in Upscale AI, which was recently valued at $2 billion, and Lumilens, which just raised $700 million at a $5.5 billion valuation.

Singh believes that Mayfield’s size and assets under management allow it to write seed checks of up to $20 million, a significant advantage in the current market.

A Strong Track Record in Semiconductors

Singh’s background in electrical engineering has served him well in identifying opportunities in the semiconductor space. His experience as a chip designer has given him a unique perspective on the potential of emerging technologies.

“My secret sauce is being able to look at any workload and see how it works from the application all the way down to the transistor,” Singh said.

Singh’s decision to join Mayfield was influenced by the firm’s strong track record in semiconductors. He believes that Mayfield’s expertise in the space will enable him to make a greater impact as an infrastructure partner.

“I’m a chip designer by training, and I believe that Mayfield’s semiconductor portfolio is one of the strongest in the industry,” Singh said.

Mayfield’s Managing Partner Navin Chaddha Weighs In

Mayfield managing partner Navin Chaddha told TechCrunch that he has known Singh for 15 years and has sat on three startup boards together, including Upscale AI and unicorn AI startup Velaura AI.

“We have been talking for a long time, and this time the stars aligned,” Chaddha said.

Chaddha believes that Singh’s experience and expertise will be a valuable asset to the Mayfield team.

“Adit brings a unique combination of technical and business expertise to Mayfield, and we are excited to have him on board,” Chaddha said.