April 22, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Tenstorrent, a U.S.-based AI chip startup, plans to grow its engineering team in Japan from about 15 to over 100 by the end of 2024, as it ramps up efforts to win advanced chip design contracts in the country.

With support from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Tenstorrent has been training Japanese engineers at its U.S. facility. The expansion aligns with its collaboration with Rapidus, a government-backed foundry aiming to produce cutting-edge semiconductors in Hokkaido.

CEO Jim Keller said at a press event in Tokyo that Tenstorrent will increase staffing to support prototype production at Rapidus scheduled for July or August. He also confirmed plans to dispatch engineers to work on-site at Rapidus.

Tenstorrent aims to launch a usage-based AI chip service in Japan as early as this fall, enabling developers to pay based on actual data processed, which may help reduce AI development costs and broaden market access.

Founded in 2016, Tenstorrent is led by Jim Keller, a veteran chip architect known for his work at Apple and Tesla. Its investors include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The company’s growing footprint in Japan underscores its strategy to expand globally and tap into emerging semiconductor ecosystems.