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TUSK IC
Ka-band CMOS chips for satellite antennas

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TUSK IC is an Antwerp-based fabless semiconductor company and KU Leuven spin-out specialising in millimetre-wave (mmWave) integrated circuits and modules. Founded in 2018 by four ESAT-MICAS PhD graduates, the company designs highly integrated mmWave ICs in standard CMOS, SOI, and SiGe processes across the 10–300 GHz range. Its product lines span automotive radar, industrial sensing, medical devices, and — increasingly — satellite communications.

Since 2022, TUSK IC has pivoted toward Ka-band satellite user terminals, developing the ConnectKa family of beamformer ICs (TUSK-BC1203 and BC2203) and the modular ConnecTile active antenna modules. These building blocks enable electronically steered flat-panel arrays for LEO and MEO constellations such as Starlink and Europe's planned IRIS2, at a fraction of the cost of traditional compound-semiconductor solutions. The company holds ISO 9001 certification and operates proprietary EDA tools and measurement capability up to 1.6 THz.

TUSK IC is backed by the European Space Agency under both the ESA ARTES Nebula R&D programme and a follow-on ESA ARTES Industrial Competitiveness contract (with BELSPO support) awarded in 2026 to productize its beamforming technology. The company signed its first two pilot customers for ConnectKa chips and is targeting production-ready, scalable chips by end-2027, with first commercial antennas reaching market in 2028.

In September 2026, TUSK IC closed a €15 million Series A co-led by Matterwave Ventures, FORWARD.one, and the Flanders Future Tech Fund (managed by PMV), with participation from the Schaubroeck family and existing investors. The round will fund the transition from prototype to high-volume production of its Ka-band beamformer chip platform.

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