[cubefox]

This article is misleading. TSMC doesn't "bet" on the tech by Avicena (the startup in question). Instead, Avicena appears to simply pay TSMC to help them with manufacturing. Here is the linked press release by Avicena:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250422988144/en/Avi...

Noting also that there have been multiple articles on IEEE Spectrum about this startup in the past, I really hope the journalists don't own the stock or are otherwise biased.

[BardiaPezeshki]

TSMC is developing custom detectors for Avicena on their own dime. They almost never do anything like for start-ups. That is why it is a bet on Avicena. They are nurturing this technology because they think it has real potential. See the TSMC quotes in the article.