Gctsemi
San Jose, US Β· Founded 1998 Β· 137 employees on LinkedIn Β· Public Β· 7 known investors
GCT develops 5G semiconductor solutions and chipsets, working with infrastructure and device manufacturers. It serves the mobile and telecommunications hardware ecosystem.
Also known as GCT Semiconductor Β· GCT Semiconductor Holding, Inc. Β· GCT Semiconductor, Inc. Β· GCTS
Founders & leadership
Gctsemi was founded in 1998 by "Kyeongho ""K.H.""" Lee.
Board
Investors Β· 7
Also in the syndicate Β· 6
Reported raises Β· per SEC filings
Form D private placements$98.9M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds Β· 2002β2013
βΆ$98.9MraisedDec 2015 Β· 26 investors Β· Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Robert BarkerDirector
- Paul KimDirector
- "Kyeongho ""K.H.""" LeeDirector
- Sundance JoeDirector
- "Jeongmin ""Jeemee""" KimExecutive Officer
- Alex SumExecutive Officer
- Gene KulzerExecutive Officer
- John SchlaeferExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $130M
- Amount sold
- $98.9M
- First sale
- Apr 2013
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026GCT Semiconductor Holding, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in San Jose, California, that designs and sells communication semiconductors for industrial, business-to-business and consumer applications. Its portfolio spans 5G/5.75G/4.5G/4G transceivers and modems, RF and modem chipsets based on 4G LTE, LTE Advanced and LTE Advanced-Pro, baseband modem solutions, RF transceivers and system-on-chip products that integrate radio frequency, baseband modem and digital signal processing functions into complete platform solutions. The company also develops cellular IoT chipsets for low-speed mobile networks (eMTC, NB-IoT, Sigfox) and 5G NR chipsets and solutions, alongside product design, warranty development, customer and technical support services.
GCT products are used in portable wireless routers, indoor and outdoor fixed wireless routers, industrial machine-to-machine applications, smartphones, fixed wireless subscriber terminals, communication modules and industrial devices. Historically its designs were built on a patented direct conversion RF architecture implemented in CMOS process technology, supporting standards including CDMA, GSM/GPRS, 802.11b/g and Bluetooth, and later WiMAX and mobile digital TV receivers. At the time of its 2023 going-public announcement, GCT reported over 120 patents globally, commercialized single-chip 4G CAT3/4, 4x4 MIMO 4.5G CAT7 and 8RX 4.75G CAT12 LTE solutions, and a foundry relationship with Samsung for 8nm and below process nodes.
More recently the company has positioned its 5G, satellite communications and Non-Terrestrial Network technologies as connectivity infrastructure for AI systems that move processing from centralized cloud servers toward industrial, enterprise and consumer edge environments.
Founding story
The company was founded in 1998 and built its product line around a patented direct conversion RF architecture designed for CMOS process technologies; its founding venture investor was Parakletos @ Ventures. Co-founder Dr. Kyeongho Lee served as President and CEO in the early 2000s and later as Chairman of the Board.
Business model
GCT operates as a fabless chip designer, outsourcing manufacturing (including a foundry relationship with Samsung for 8nm and below) and selling chipsets, modules and SoC platform solutions. It also licenses its 5G and 4G chipset technology, as in a January 2026 licensing agreement with a large satellite communications provider that is expected to lead to subsequent chipset shipments.
Revenue comes from sales of RF transceiver, baseband modem, SoC and module products to wireless operators, OEMs and ODMs, sold directly and through distributors, supplemented by chipset licensing agreements and design, warranty, customer and technical support services. Reported net revenue was $1.0 million in Q2 2026 and $4.08 million on a trailing twelve month basis.
Traction
In Q2 2026 GCT reported net revenue of $1.0 million, an 18% year-over-year decline, and a net loss of $20.4 million, while shipping more than 5,100 5G chipsets, a 71% sequential increase, with $30.2 million of cash on the balance sheet. Trailing twelve month revenue was $4.08 million and trailing net loss attributable to common shareholders was $53.11 million. Commercial milestones include Verizon certification of the GDM7243i Cat-M1 IoT chip (2018), design-in to Huawei's B5328 LTE home modem for Jilin Mobile (2015), a 5G/4G chipset licensing agreement and a reference platform agreement with a major satellite communications provider (2026), and a letter of intent with Orbic North America for Orbic-branded FWA gateway and mobile hotspot products using GCT's Verizon-certified 5G module.
Latest developments
In January 2026 GCT licensed its 5G and 4G chipsets to one of the world's largest satellite communications providers for integration into the provider's user equipment, with 5G shipments expected to begin as early as the second half of the year; a related reference platform agreement with the same provider was announced in May 2026. In February 2026 the company disclosed a collaboration with Skylo Technologies on global satellite connectivity, and in May 2026 a partnership with MaxLinear to pre-integrate MaxLinear Wi-Fi with GCT cellular modems for next-generation 5G FWA and converged gateways. In June 2026 GCT announced a strategic focus on positioning its 5G, satellite and NTN portfolio for AI infrastructure at the edge, and in August 2026 it announced a strategic partnership addressing next-generation UAV control and communications.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
GCT describes itself as one of a limited number of companies worldwide with commercially proven 4G LTE and 5G solutions, citing scarcity value, more than 120 patents and long-standing operator, OEM and ODM relationships as barriers to entry. As of August 2026 the company had a market capitalization of roughly $170 million. Its products have been designed into carrier programs including Huawei's 4x4 MIMO B5328 LTE home modem for Jilin Mobile (China Mobile) and NEC's 4x4 MIMO LTE-Advanced mobile router for UQ Communications in Japan.
GCT emphasizes single-chip integration of RF, modem and DSP functions based on its patented direct conversion CMOS architecture, and multi-antenna capabilities such as the first commercially available LTE-Advanced chip with 4x4 MIMO, which allows operators to increase throughput and coverage within limited spectrum. It also cites a full-band, full-feature 5G chipset roadmap and combined cellular plus satellite/NTN connectivity coverage.
Technology
The company's system-on-chip solutions integrate radio frequency, baseband modem, digital signal processing and protocol stack in a single platform, targeting small form factor, low power consumption and reduced bill-of-materials cost. Core intellectual property includes a patented direct conversion RF architecture implemented in CMOS and proprietary multi-antenna modem and transceiver technology; product examples include the GDM7243Q LTE-Advanced chip with 4x4 MIMO and the GDM7243i multimode Cat-M1 baseband plus RF chip with integrated GPS, Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2, CAN interface and VoLTE. Newer work covers full-band 5G NR chipsets, 5G fixed wireless access and converged gateways, and satellite/Non-Terrestrial Network connectivity.
Go-to-market
GCT sells directly and indirectly through distributors to wireless operators, OEMs and ODMs, and works with module vendors that build and supply chipset-based modules for commercial deployment. It pursues carrier certifications (for example Verizon Cat-M1 approval), reference platform and licensing agreements, co-development partnerships with companies such as MaxLinear, Skylo and Orbic North America, and exhibits at industry events including Mobile World Congress 2026.
Wireless carriers and operators, original equipment manufacturers and original design manufacturers building portable and fixed wireless routers, CPE and gateways, smartphones, hotspots, USB dongles, communication modules, industrial M2M and IoT devices, plus satellite communications providers and UAV/defense customers.
Geography
Headquartered at 2121 Ringwood Ave, San Jose, California, with research and development plus Asia-Pacific sales and marketing operations in Seoul, Korea. The company sells into the United States, Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan, Germany, Europe, North America and South America.
History
GCT Semiconductor was founded in 1998 and by December 2002 had raised $54 million in total, including a $38 million Series C led by Pequot Ventures, following an earlier round led by founding investor Parakletos @ Ventures; at that time Dr. Kyeongho Lee was President and CEO. Early products targeted CDMA, GSM and 802.11b markets, later extending to mobile WiMAX, mobile digital TV receivers, 4G LTE and cellular IoT. In November 2023 the company agreed to a business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp III, a special purpose acquisition company, and began trading on the NYSE as GCTS, ringing the closing bell on April 26, 2024. Kyeongho Lee served as Chairman and Co-Founder at the time of the SPAC announcement and John Schlaefer as President and CEO.
Risks & controversies
GCT reported a Q2 2026 net revenue decline of 18% year over year to $1.0 million alongside a widened net loss of $20.4 million and negative levered free cash flow of $26.9 million on a trailing twelve month basis, against $30.2 million of cash, raising questions about cash runway. Revenue concentration in a small number of licensing and design win programs, and dependence on partners and third-party foundry capacity, are additional exposures reflected in the disclosed operating results.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Competitors Β· 6
by search overlap
Companies competing with Gctsemi for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline Β· 13
launches, deals, and filingsGCT Semiconductor announced the formation of a strategic partnership focused on next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle control and communications.
GCT announced a strengthened strategic focus on enabling global expansion of AI infrastructure, positioning its 5G, satellite communications and Non-Terrestrial Network technologies as the wireless layer connecting physical-world devices to cloud-based intelligence.
MaxLinear and GCT agreed to combine Wi-Fi, network processing, 5G and LTE cellular technologies by pre-integrating MaxLinear Wi-Fi with GCT's cellular modem for next-generation 5G fixed wireless access and converged gateways.
GCT signed a reference platform agreement with one of the world's largest satellite communications providers, supplementing the 5G/4G chipset licensing agreement executed in January 2026. Morgan Lewis advised GCT on the transaction.
GCT announced it would showcase its latest 5G and IoT capabilities at its exhibit at Mobile World Congress 2026, held March 2-6 in Barcelona, Spain.
GCT Semiconductor was reported to be collaborating with Skylo Technologies to accelerate global satellite connectivity combined with 5G/4G integration.
GCT licensed its 5G and 4G chipsets to one of the world's largest satellite communications providers for integration into the provider's user equipment, supporting satellite and terrestrial connectivity and direct-to-satellite applications. Shipments of the related 5G products were expected to begin as early as the second half of 2026.
Orbic North America and GCT Semiconductor signed a letter of intent to develop and supply Orbic-branded FWA gateway and mobile hotspot products using GCT's Verizon-certified 5G module.
The GCT team with CEO John Schlaefer rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange celebrating the listing of GCTS.
GCT Semiconductor and Concord Acquisition Corp III (NYSE: CNDB) entered a definitive business combination agreement to take GCT public on the NYSE under the ticker GCTS. The transaction valued GCT at an initial enterprise value of approximately $461 million and a pro forma enterprise value of $661 million including 20.0 million performance-based earnout shares, and was expected to provide up to $87 million of gross proceeds, including $43 million of fully committed PIPE and convertible note financing.
$87M source β
Verizon certified GCT's GDM7243i multimode Cat-M1 baseband plus RF chip and accepted it into its portfolio of approved Cat-M1 chips, shortening certification and design time for IoT devices on Verizon's LTE Cat-M1 network.
GCT announced that its LTE-Advanced GDM7243Q chip with 4x4 MIMO powers Huawei's B5328 LTE home modem for Jilin Mobile, a subsidiary of China Mobile, described as the industry's first commercial indoor LTE home modem supporting 4x4 MIMO LTE-A.
GCT completed a $38 million Series C equity round led by Pequot Ventures, bringing total capital raised since its 1998 inception to $54 million. Proceeds were earmarked to move products from sampling into mass production, expand geographic marketing presence and distribution channels, and continue development of products based on its direct conversion architecture.
$38M source β
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- Gctsemigctsemi.com Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Gctsemi do?
- Fabless semiconductor company designing 4G LTE, 5G and satellite/NTN RF transceiver, modem and SoC chipsets.
- Who founded Gctsemi?
- Gctsemi was founded by "Kyeongho ""K.H.""" Lee in 1998.
- Who are Gctsemi's investors?
- Gctsemi's investors include Atinum Investment Co. Ltd..
- How much funding has Gctsemi raised?
- Gctsemi has disclosed $98.9M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
- Where is Gctsemi headquartered?
- Gctsemi is headquartered in San Jose, US.