TSMC-backed U.S. fund targets chip, robotics, other hardware startups

TOKYO — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and major U.S. venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins are among investors backing a new $300 million fund that targets manufacturing startups, such as chip and robotics makers, amid the trend of supply chain onshoring.

Wen Hsieh, a managing partner of Matter Venture Partners, which manages the fund, spoke to Nikkei about investment targets and strategy. Hsieh was a former partner at Kleiner Perkins.