# Felix Ejeckam

> Felix Ejeckam is the Co-Founder and CEO of Akash Systems, a San Francisco-based deep-tech company that invented GaN-on-Diamond semiconductor technology - a breakthrough that enables dramatically better thermal management for both satellite communications and AI data center servers. A serial entrepreneur with two prior exits, Ejeckam holds 80+ patents and 100+ scientific publications, was named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, and led Akash to a $68.2M CHIPS Act preliminary agreement and the world's first diamond-cooled NVIDIA GPU server deployment.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Akash Systems
- **Organizations:** Akash Systems, Group4 Labs, Nova Crystals, Element Six Technologies (De Beers), McKinsey & Company
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Minor in Materials Science, Cornell University, M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Materials Science, Laser Physics), Cornell University, B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Semiconductor Lasers), William Marsh Rice University
- **Known for:** Invented GaN-on-Diamond technology in 2003 - first commercially available GaN/diamond composite wafer, 80+ U.S. Patents, 100+ scientific publications and conference papers

## Career timeline

- **1997-1998** — Associate at McKinsey & Company
- **1998** — Co-founded Nova Crystals, Inc. - semiconductor lasers and detectors for Telecom/Datacom
- **2003** — Co-founded Group4 Labs and invented GaN-on-Diamond technology - first commercially available GaN/diamond composite wafer
- **2013** — Sold Group4 Labs to Element Six Technologies (De Beers subsidiary)
- **2013-2015** — Head of Defense & Aerospace Business at Element Six Technologies
- **2016** — Co-founded Akash Systems, reacquired GaN-on-Diamond IP from Element Six/RFHIC
- **2021** — Named World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer
- **2022** — Akash Systems raises Series B (last funding round)
- **2024** — Named one of America's Greatest Disruptors by Newsweek
- **2024-11** — Akash Systems signs preliminary agreement for $68.2M in CHIPS Act funding
- **2024-12** — Akash Systems delivers world's first diamond-cooled NVIDIA GPU servers to NxtGen Datacenter ($27M contract)
- **2025-01** — Diamond-cooled satellite radio launched into Low Earth Orbit with Pixxel - space heritage milestone
- **2025-10** — Named one of Goldman Sachs' Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2025 at Builders and Innovators Summit

## Achievements

- Invented GaN-on-Diamond technology in 2003 - first commercially available GaN/diamond composite wafer
- 80+ U.S. Patents
- 100+ scientific publications and conference papers
- Two successful company exits (Nova Crystals, Group4 Labs)
- World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer (2021)
- Newsweek America's Greatest Disruptors (2024)
- Goldman Sachs Most Exceptional Entrepreneur (2025)
- Led Akash Systems to $68.2M CHIPS Act preliminary agreement (2024)
- Delivered world's first diamond-cooled NVIDIA GPU servers (2024)
- Achieved world's first space deployment of GaN-on-Diamond technology in LEO (January 2025)
- GaN-on-Diamond achieves 3x power density vs. GaN on silicon carbide
- Diamond cooling enables 25% GPU overclocking and doubles server lifetimes

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Felix appeared on theCUBE + NYSE Wired discussing AI data center efficiency and diamond cooling reducing GPU temperatures by 10-15 degrees Celsius
- **2025-10** — Named one of Goldman Sachs' Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2025 at Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California
- **2025-01** — Akash Systems achieved space heritage: diamond-cooled satellite radio launched into Low Earth Orbit with Pixxel on January 14, 2025
- **2024-12** — Akash Systems delivers world's first diamond-cooled NVIDIA GPU servers to NxtGen Datacenter in India under $27M contract
- **2024-11** — Signed non-binding preliminary agreement for $68.2M in CHIPS Act funding ($18.2M direct + $50M tax credits)
- **2024** — Named one of America's Greatest Disruptors by Newsweek

## Links

- Website: https://akashsystems.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felixejeckam/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/felixejeckam

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/felix-ejeckam
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-12